STAND. COM. REP. NO. 327

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1319

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Government Operations and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1319 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FUNDS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to reinstate the Governor's authority to transfer funds to cope with the effects of natural disasters, for operating purposes, or to supplement the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Fire Fighter's Contingency Fund.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, Department of Budget and Finance, and one individual.

Your Committees find that Act 88, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, as amended by Act 248, Sessions Laws of Hawaii 2022, did not contain boiler plate provisions that are generally included in the General Appropriations Act that provide the Governor with the authority to transfer funds for operating purposes, natural disaster, or the Fire Fighter's Contingency Fund. Your Committees also find that flexibility dictates a necessity to continue to provide services that allow for a rapid response typified by the unpredictable occurrence of natural disasters, specifically wildfires.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Government Operations and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1319, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1319, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Government Operations and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair