STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2355

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3065

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 3065 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 appropriate special funds to Department of Transportation programs to pay for anticipated operating shortfalls due to the limited ability to transfer funds between programs.

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

Your Committee finds that Act 164, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, did not contain boilerplate provisions that are generally included in the General Appropriations Act that provide the Governor with authority to transfer funds for operating purposes. Your Committee further finds that because this authority was removed, the Department of Transportation currently faces an operating budget shortfall. This measure will provide a budget-neutral way for the Department of Transportation to address its operating shortfalls and ensure continued departmental services and operations.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3065 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

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CHRIS LEE, Chair