STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3716

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2376

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2376, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to adjust funding for certain Department of Transportation projects pursuant to Act 164, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Transportation.

Your Committee finds that in prior years, the Legislature's budget acts contained a proviso that permitted departments to transfer funds between their respective programs. Your Committee notes, however, that Act 164, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, does not contain this proviso. Your Committee recognizes that without this proviso, the Department of Transportation is unable to transfer funds between its programs to replace one of its two existing barrier transfer machines that provide high occupancy vehicle lanes during morning rush hour on Oahu. Accordingly, your Committee believes that transferring moneys between the Department of Transportation's programs will help the Department of Transportation to ensure the continued safe and efficient flow of morning traffic on Oahu.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2376, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2376, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair