THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
948
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to the elections commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 11-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[Struck through: []]§11-7[[Struck through: ]]] Elections commission. (a) There is established an elections commission within the department of accounting and general services for administrative purposes. The elections commission shall consist of nine members who shall be [[Struck through: selected as follows:]] [Underlined: nominated and, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appointed as follows:]
(1) The president of the senate shall [[Struck through: select]] [Underlined: nominate] two elections commission members;
(2) The speaker of the house of representatives shall [[Struck through: select]] [Underlined: nominate] two elections commission members;
(3) The senators belonging to a party or parties different from the president of the senate shall designate one senator to [[Struck through: select]] [Underlined: nominate] two elections commission members;
(4) The representatives belonging to a party or parties different from the speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one representative to [[Struck through: select]] [Underlined: nominate] two elections commission members; and
(5) One member, who shall serve as chairperson of the elections commission, shall be [[Struck through: selected]] [Underlined: nominated] by [[Struck through: the]] [Underlined: a vote of two-thirds of all] members [[Struck through: of]] [Underlined: to which] the elections commission [[Struck through: selected]] [Underlined: is entitled and who have already been appointed and confirmed] pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (4)[[Struck through: ;]][Underlined: , and shall be appointed by and with the advice and consent of the senate;]
provided that each group of four elections commission members [[Struck through: selected]] [Underlined: appointed] by each house shall include one elections commission member from each of the four counties.
[[Struck through: (b) The chairperson of the elections commission under subsection (a)(5) shall be selected by a two-thirds vote.]
[Struck through: (c)]] [Underlined: (b)] A vacancy in the elections commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment as specified in subsection (a) within fifteen days. A vacancy in the elections commission shall be filled with a person from the same county as the departing elections commission member. Elections commission member vacancies not filled within the times specified shall be filled promptly thereafter by the chief justice of the supreme court.
[[Struck through: (d)]] [Underlined: (c)] The elections commission shall act by majority vote of its membership and shall establish its own procedures, except as may be provided by law. [Underlined: A majority of all members to which the commission is entitled shall constitute a quorum to do business.]
[[Struck through: (e) Notwithstanding section 26-34, elections commission member appointments shall not be subject to senatorial confirmation.]
[Struck through: (f)]] [Underlined: (d)] The term of the elections commissioners shall be four years, except that with respect to the terms of the initial elections commission members, one member selected from each of subsection (a)(1) to (4) shall serve for a term of two years.
[[Struck through: (g)]] [Underlined: (e)] The elections commissioners shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Elections Commission; Members; Advice and Consent
Description:
Makes the members of the Elections Commission subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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