Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SB2345 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 2345 THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to Elections. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 2345
4	4	THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
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7	7	THE SENATE
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9	9	S.B. NO.
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11	11	2345
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13	13	THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	Relating to Elections.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. Section 11-410, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (h) to read as follows: "(h) [This] Except for subsection (g), this section shall not apply to any person who, prior to the commencement of proceedings under this section, has paid or agreed to pay the fines prescribed by sections 11-340 and 11-391(b)." SECTION 2. Section 11-411, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "[[]§11-411[]] Criminal referral. [In lieu of an] In addition to any administrative determination that a violation of this part has been committed, the commission may refer the complaint to the attorney general or county prosecutor [at any time it believes the respondent may have recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally committed a violation]." SECTION 3. Section 11-412, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "[[]§11-412[]] Criminal prosecution. (a) Any person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally violates any provision of this part shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (b) Any person who knowingly or intentionally falsifies any report required by this part with the intent to circumvent the law or deceive the commission or who violates section 11-352 or 11-353 shall be guilty of a class C felony. A person charged with a class C felony shall not be eligible for a deferred acceptance of guilty plea or nolo contendere plea under chapter 853. (c) A person who is convicted under this section shall be disqualified from holding elective public office for a period of [four] ten years from the date of conviction. (d) For purposes of prosecution for violation of this part, the offices of the attorney general and the prosecuting attorney of the respective counties shall be deemed to have concurrent jurisdiction to be exercised as follows: (1) Prosecution shall commence with a written request from the commission or upon the issuance of an order of the court; provided that prosecution may commence prior to any proceeding initiated by the commission or final determination; (2) In the case of statewide offices, parties, or issues, the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney for the city and county of Honolulu shall prosecute any violation; and (3) In the case of all other offices, parties, or issues, the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney for the respective county shall prosecute any violation. In the commission's choice of prosecuting agency, it shall be guided by whether any conflicting interest exists between the agency and its appointive authority. (e) The court shall give priority to the expeditious processing of prosecutions under this section. (f) Prosecution for violations of this part shall not commence after five years have elapsed from the date of the violation or date of filing of the report covering the period in which the violation occurred, whichever is later. [(g) This section shall not apply to any person who, prior to the commencement of proceedings under this section, has paid or agreed to pay the fines prescribed by sections 11-340 and 11-391(b).]" SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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49	49	SECTION 1. Section 11-410, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
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51	51	"(h) [This] Except for subsection (g), this section shall not apply to any person who, prior to the commencement of proceedings under this section, has paid or agreed to pay the fines prescribed by sections 11-340 and 11-391(b)."
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53	53	SECTION 2. Section 11-411, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
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55	55	"[[]§11-411[]] Criminal referral. [In lieu of an] In addition to any administrative determination that a violation of this part has been committed, the commission may refer the complaint to the attorney general or county prosecutor [at any time it believes the respondent may have recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally committed a violation]."
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57	57	SECTION 3. Section 11-412, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
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59	59	"[[]§11-412[]] Criminal prosecution. (a) Any person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally violates any provision of this part shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
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61	61	(b) Any person who knowingly or intentionally falsifies any report required by this part with the intent to circumvent the law or deceive the commission or who violates section 11-352 or 11-353 shall be guilty of a class C felony. A person charged with a class C felony shall not be eligible for a deferred acceptance of guilty plea or nolo contendere plea under chapter 853.
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63	63	(c) A person who is convicted under this section shall be disqualified from holding elective public office for a period of [four] ten years from the date of conviction.
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65	65	(d) For purposes of prosecution for violation of this part, the offices of the attorney general and the prosecuting attorney of the respective counties shall be deemed to have concurrent jurisdiction to be exercised as follows:
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67	67	(1) Prosecution shall commence with a written request from the commission or upon the issuance of an order of the court; provided that prosecution may commence prior to any proceeding initiated by the commission or final determination;
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69	69	(2) In the case of statewide offices, parties, or issues, the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney for the city and county of Honolulu shall prosecute any violation; and
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71	71	(3) In the case of all other offices, parties, or issues, the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney for the respective county shall prosecute any violation.
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73	73	In the commission's choice of prosecuting agency, it shall be guided by whether any conflicting interest exists between the agency and its appointive authority.
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75	75	(e) The court shall give priority to the expeditious processing of prosecutions under this section.
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77	77	(f) Prosecution for violations of this part shall not commence after five years have elapsed from the date of the violation or date of filing of the report covering the period in which the violation occurred, whichever is later.
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79	79	[(g) This section shall not apply to any person who, prior to the commencement of proceedings under this section, has paid or agreed to pay the fines prescribed by sections 11-340 and 11-391(b).]"
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81	81	SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
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83	83	SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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87	87	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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89	89	INTRODUCED BY:
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91	91	_____________________________
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97	97	Report Title: Elections; Administrative Fines; Criminal Prosecution Description: Allows the elections commission to refer a complaint to the attorney general or county prosecutor in addition to any administrative determination and without the requirement that the commission believes the respondent has recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally committed a violation. Disqualifies a person convicted of violating elections criminal prosecution laws from holding elective public office for ten years rather than four. Repeals language stipulating that elections criminal prosecution law does not apply to any persons who has paid or agrees to pay fines related to report filing violations and advertisement violations prior to the commencement of the proceedings. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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103	103	Report Title:
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105	105	Elections; Administrative Fines; Criminal Prosecution
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109	109	Description:
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111	111	Allows the elections commission to refer a complaint to the attorney general or county prosecutor in addition to any administrative determination and without the requirement that the commission believes the respondent has recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally committed a violation. Disqualifies a person convicted of violating elections criminal prosecution laws from holding elective public office for ten years rather than four. Repeals language stipulating that elections criminal prosecution law does not apply to any persons who has paid or agrees to pay fines related to report filing violations and advertisement violations prior to the commencement of the proceedings.
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119	119	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.