STAND. COM. REP. NO. 442

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 679

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 679 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the general fund appropriation for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation under Act 236, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to ensure the State meets its American Rescue Plan Act maintenance of effort obligations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Your Committee finds that federal funding received under the federal American Rescue Plan Act came with a spending stipulation that required states receiving Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Program III funds to maintain their spending for elementary and secondary education to at least maintain the proportional level of support provided during specific past fiscal years. Your Committee further finds that this measure is necessary to ensure the State satisfies maintenance of effort obligations under the American Rescue Plan Act.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 679 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

____________________________

TROY N. HASHIMOTO, Chair