Bill Text: HI SB2139 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Relating To Vacancies.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-07-10 - Failed to pass Final Reading. Ayes, 9. Noes, 16 (Senator(s) Dela Cruz, English, Fevella, Gabbard, K. Kahele, Kanuha, Keith-Agaran, J.Keohokalole, Kidani, Kim, Moriwaki, Riviere, Ruderman, Shimabukuro, Taniguchi, Wakai). Excused, 0 (none). [SB2139 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SB2139-Amended.html

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2139

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO VACANCIES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 11-117, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Any candidate may withdraw in writing [not] no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day immediately following the close of filing for any reason and may withdraw after the close of filing up to 4:30 p.m. on the fiftieth day [prior to] before an election for reasons of ill health.  Any candidate may withdraw after the close of filing but no later than the seventy-fifth day before the next general election to fill a vacancy contemplated by sections 17-3 or 17-4.  When a candidate withdraws for ill health, the candidate shall give notice in writing to the chief election officer if the candidate was seeking a congressional or state office, or the candidate shall give notice in writing to the county clerk if the candidate was seeking a county office.  The notice shall be accompanied by a statement from a licensed physician or physician assistant indicating that such ill health may endanger the candidate's life.

     A candidate who withdraws the candidate's own nomination papers [prior to] before the close of filing shall not be considered to have caused a vacancy that may be filled by a party under section 11-118."

     SECTION 2.  Section 17-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§17-3  State senator.  (a)  Whenever any vacancy in the membership of the state senate occurs, the term of which ends at the next succeeding general election:

     (1)  The governor shall make an appointment within sixty calendar days following the first day of vacancy to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term by selecting a person from a list of three prospective appointees submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent.  The appointee shall be at the time of appointment, and for at least six months immediately [prior to] before the appointment, a member of the political party.  The appointee shall, at the time of appointment, be a resident of the same senate district as the prior incumbent.  The political party shall submit the list of prospective appointees to the governor within thirty calendar days following the first day of vacancy; and

     (2)  If the prior incumbent was not a member of any political party, the governor shall, within sixty calendar days following the first day of vacancy, appoint a person who is at the time of appointment a resident of the same senate district as the prior incumbent and who is not, and has not been for at least six months [prior to] before the appointment, a member of any political party.

     (b)  In the case of a vacancy, the term of which does not end at the next succeeding general election:

     (1)  If it occurs [not] no later than on the tenth day [prior to] before the close of filing for the next succeeding primary election, as specified in section 12-6, the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term at the next succeeding general election.  The chief election officer shall issue a proclamation designating the election for filling the vacancy.  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, all candidates for the unexpired term shall file nomination papers no later than the date and time specified in section 12-6 for the next succeeding primary election.  All candidates for the unexpired term shall be nominated and elected in accordance with this title.  Pending the election, the governor shall make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy, and the person so appointed shall serve until the election of the person duly elected to fill the vacancy.  The governor shall make the appointment from a list of three prospective appointees submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent.  The appointee shall be, at the time of the appointment, and shall have been, for at least six months immediately [prior to] before the appointment, a member of the political party.  The appointee shall, at the time of appointment, be a resident of the same senate district as the prior incumbent.  If the prior incumbent was not a member of any political party, the governor shall appoint a person who is at the time of appointment a resident of the same senate district as the prior incumbent and is not and has not been, for at least six months immediately [prior to] before the appointment, a member of any political party;

    [(2)  If it occurs later than on the tenth day prior to the close of filing for the next succeeding primary election but not later than on the sixtieth day prior to the next succeeding primary election, or if there are no qualified candidates for any party or nonpartisan candidates qualified for the primary election ballot, nominations for the unexpired term may be filed not later than 4:30 p.m. on the fiftieth day prior to the next succeeding primary election.  The chief election officer shall issue a proclamation designating the election for filling the vacancy.  Pending the election the governor shall make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy and the person appointed shall serve until the election of the person duly elected to fill the vacancy.  The governor shall make the appointment from a list of three prospective appointees submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent.  The appointee shall be, at the time of the appointment, and shall have been, for at least six months immediately prior to the appointment, a member of the political party.  The appointee shall, at the time of appointment, be a resident of the same senate district as the prior incumbent.  If the prior incumbent was not a member of any political party, the governor shall appoint a person who is at the time of appointment a resident of the same senate district as the prior incumbent and is not and has not been, for at least six months immediately prior to the appointment, a member of any political party;

     (3)] (2)  If it occurs [after the sixtieth day prior to the next succeeding primary] later than on the tenth day before the close of filing for the next succeeding primary election, as specified in section 12-6, but [not] no later than on the [fiftieth] ninety-fifth day [prior to] before the next succeeding general election, or if there are no qualified candidates for any party or nonpartisan candidates in the primary, the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term at the next succeeding general election.  The chief election officer shall issue a proclamation designating the election for filling the vacancy.  Each candidate shall fill out an application for nomination papers, sign the proper certification on the nomination papers, and take either an oath or affirmation as provided by law.  Party candidates for the unexpired senate term shall be nominated by the county committees of the parties [not].  The chief elections officer shall be notified of the nominations, and the nomination papers of the party candidates shall be filed no later than 4:30 p.m. on the [fortieth] seventy-fifth day [prior to] before the general election[; nonpartisan].  Nonpartisan candidates may file nomination papers for the unexpired term [not] no later than 4:30 p.m. on the [fortieth] seventy-fifth day [prior to] before the general election with the nonpartisan candidate who is to be nominated to be decided by lot, under the supervision of the chief election officer.  The candidates for the unexpired term shall be elected in accordance with this title.  Pending the election, the governor shall make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy, and the person appointed shall serve until the election of the person duly elected to fill the vacancy.  The governor shall make the appointment from a list of three prospective appointees submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent.  The appointee shall be, at the time of the appointment, and shall have been, for at least six months immediately [prior to] before the appointment, a member of the political party.  The appointee shall, at the time of appointment, be a resident of the same senate district as the prior incumbent.  If the prior incumbent was not a member of any political party, the governor shall appoint a person who is at the time of appointment a resident of the same senate district as the prior incumbent and is not and has not been, for at least six months immediately [prior to] before the appointment, a member of any political party;

    [(4)] (3)  If it occurs after the [fiftieth] ninety-fifth day [prior to] before the next succeeding general election or if no candidates are nominated, the governor shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term by selecting a person from a list of three prospective appointees submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent.  The appointee shall be, at the time of the appointment, and shall have been, for at least six months immediately [prior to] before the appointment, a member of the political party.  The appointee shall, at the time of appointment, be a resident of the same senate district as the prior incumbent.  If the prior incumbent was not a member of any political party, the governor shall appoint a person who is at the time of appointment a resident of the same senate district as the prior incumbent and is not and has not been, for at least six months immediately [prior to] before the appointment, a member of any political party."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect retroactive to June 17, 2020.


 


 

Report Title:

Office of Elections Package; Candidates; Withdrawal; State Legislature; Vacancies

 

Description:

Amends the deadline for candidates to withdraw in order to fill a state legislative vacancy.  Amends filing deadlines for candidates attempting to fill vacant state senate seats.  Effective retroactively to 6/17/2020.  (HD1)

 

 

 

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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