Bill Text: HI HB1899 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Elections; Absent Uniformed Services and Overseas Civilian Voters

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-05 - (H) Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JUD with none voting no (0) and M. Lee, McKelvey excused (2). [HB1899 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HB1899-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO.  137-10

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1899

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1899 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AND OVERSEAS CIVILIAN ABSENTEE VOTERS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to strengthen absentee voting procedures for members of the uniformed services, Department of Defense employees, and their family members serving overseas, by adopting absentee ballot procedures recommended by the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

 

     The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, The League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Oahu Veterans Council, and American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  The Office of Veterans Services supported the intent of this measure.  The Office of Elections and the Honolulu City Clerk offered comments.

 

     Your Committee notes that issues were raised about the 45-day deadline for transmitting absentee ballots by electronic means.  Election offices may be unable to comply with this provision due to the current timing of primary and general elections.  Other questions were raised about definitions of the terms "household family member" and "next covered election."

 

     Your Committee finds that the provisions contained in this measure warrant further discussion, and thus has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Removing the term "household family member" which is covered under the definition of "absent uniformed services voter;"

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112; and

 

     (3)  Making other technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1899, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1899, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs,

 

 

		____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair