HB1672

SECTION 1. Section 23-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§23-8 Assistance and staff. (a) In the performance of the auditor's duties, the auditor may employ the services of one or more certified public accountants or accounting firms, and other assistants and clerical workers as may be necessary; provided the cost thereof shall not exceed the sums as may be available out of the appropriation provided by law for the conduct of the auditor's office; provided further that the accountants, firms, and assistants are entirely independent of the departments, offices, and agencies of the State and its political subdivisions whose affairs are subject to audit by the auditor.

(b) All employees shall be hired by the auditor subject to the approval of the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall serve at the auditor's pleasure; provided that in the establishment of the salary of each employee, the auditor shall consult with the department of human resources development and shall follow as closely as possible the recommendations of the department; provided further that effective July 1, [~~2005,~~] 2007, the salary of the first assistant or first deputy shall be not more than [~~eighty-seven~~] ninety-two per cent of the salary of the auditor.

(c) The auditor and the auditor's full-time staff shall be entitled to participate in any employee benefit program privileges."

SECTION 2. Section 23G-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§23G-2 Assistant; staff. (a) The director shall appoint a first assistant and other officers and employees as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the bureau. All employees, including the first assistant, shall be hired by the director and shall serve at the director's pleasure.

(b) In determining the salary of the employees of the bureau, the director shall consult with the department of human resources development; provided that, effective July 1, [~~2005,~~] 2007, the salary of the first assistant shall be not more than [~~eighty-seven~~] ninety-two per cent of the salary of the director.

(c) The director and the director's full-time staff shall be entitled to participate in any employee benefit program plan or privilege."

SECTION 3. Section 96-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§96-3 Assistance, staff, delegation, funding. (a) The ombudsman shall appoint a first assistant and other officers and employees as may be necessary to carry out this chapter. All employees, including the first assistant, shall be hired by the ombudsman and shall serve at the ombudsman's pleasure.

(b) In determining the salary of each employee, the ombudsman shall consult with the department of human resources development and shall follow as closely as possible the recommendations of the department. Effective July 1, [~~2005,~~] 2007, the first assistant's salary shall be not more than [~~eighty-seven~~] ninety-two per cent of the salary of the ombudsman.

(d) The ombudsman may delegate to the ombudsman's appointees any of the ombudsman's duties except those specified in sections 96-12 and 96-13; provided that during the absence of the ombudsman from the island of Oahu, or the ombudsman's temporary inability to exercise and discharge the powers and duties of the ombudsman's office, the powers and duties as contained in sections 96-12 and 96-13 shall devolve upon the first assistant during the ombudsman's absence or inability.

(e) The funds for the support of the office of the ombudsman shall be provided for in the act providing for the expenses of the legislature."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1672
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII