STAND. COM. REP. NO. 480

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 573

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness, to which was referred H.B. No. 573 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FEDERAL FUNDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds received from the federal government for certain COVID-19 response and activities with funds for certain programs paid by the county.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Mayor of the County of Maui and one member of the Maui County Council.

Your Committee finds that the State requires federal funding support to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to continue providing necessary services to residents. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has passed various legislation to help support states and its citizens. This measure will provide the State with a legislative vehicle if funding from the federal government becomes available.

Your Committee notes that under existing law, there is no explicit process on how to appropriate federal relief funds received by the State during a state of emergency when the Legislature is not in session. This can cause a delay in providing necessary funds to state agencies during an emergency. Your Committee believes that it is imperative to have a process in place to ensure that crucial services are available to support and protect the residents and visitors of the State.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that:

(A) Requires, if the Legislature is not in session when the Governor declares a state of emergency and Congress passes a financial relief package of a certain amount, that the Joint Legislative Budget Committee convene within fourteen days after a financial relief package becomes law to prepare a recommendation for the Legislature on how to appropriate federal funds received;

(B) Authorizes the Legislature to convene in a special session in accordance with the constitution within thirty days after the financial relief package becomes law to act on the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee; and

(C) Provides that if the Legislature does not convene in a special session within the time provided, the Governor may expend the federal funds accordingly; provided that the Governor submits a request to appropriate any unexpended funds during the next regular or special session and a report of all funds expended by the Governor to the Legislature; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 573, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 573, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair