Senate Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations (JGO) - chair: Taniguchi, vice chair: Takamine

Thursday, February 12, 2009, 9:30 A.M. Conference Room 016

Testifier: Jean Aoki, LWV of Hawaii Legislative Liaison

Click here to view SB93

Chair Taniguchi, Vice Chair Takamine, members of the JGO Committee, The League of Women Voters supports SB 93 in general The grace period of 7 days after the last day of the reporting period given to return refunds of contributions that exceed the twenty percent cap on contributions from non-Hawaii residents except for certain exceptions sounds reasonable. We can understand the stresses of a campaign especially those who do not have the funds to hire enough staff to monitor everything as carefully as they should. We see no problems with the rest of the amendments. There is one section in this bill, not one being amended, that is so confusing that I would like to call it your attention. It seems to me that some amendment is in order. Under “Electioneering communications shall not include communications:” beginning on line 8 on page 3, (1), (3) and (4) are very clear. But (2), “That constitute expenditures by the disbursing organization” puzzles us as to whom the “disbursing organization” is referring to. Thank you for this opportunity to testify on SB 93.