Honolulu
Hawaii Island Kauai Maui
Home About Us
Join Us Contact Us LWV-U.S.
newsletters position papers legislature reports testimony links
  Legislative Testimony

Topics   Titles   Bill Numbers   Committees   Dates  

LWV-Hawaii Legislative Testimony

HB 59 HD1

Relating to
Legislative residency requirements

Proposing an amendment to the Hawaii Constitution relating to residence requirements for members of the Legislature

House Committee on Judiciary (JUD) - chair: Karamatsu, vice chair: Ito

Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 2:00 p,m. Conference Room 325

Testifier: Jean Aoki, LWV of Hawaii

Click here to view HB59 HD1

Chair Karamatsu, Vice chair Ito, members of the Committee on Judiciary,

The League of Women Voters of Hawaii supports HB 59, HD1, which proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to require at least a one-year residence in a district for candidates to run for office to represent that district in the Legisilature .

It was maybe a decade ago that we successfully urged an amendment to the State Constitution which required residency in a district prior to filing for office as opposed to the provision which only required residency in the district by the General Election. This bill goes one better by requiring more familiarity with the district one wishes to represent.

We believe that it is a responsibility as well as a distinct honor to represent people of a district in the Legislature, and people deserve someone representing them who they feel knows the district and understands its people and the issues confronting them . I believe that it is understood that problems that arise in this regard when the district lines change with redistricting after the 2010 Census will not punish an incumbent who is thrown into a new district because of population movement.

We ask for your support of HB 59, and we thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of this amendment.

TOP


Search WWW Search this site

Home | About Us | Join Us | Contact Us | LWV-US
newsletters | position papers | legislature | reports | testimony | links