HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2340

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE, ITS OFFICERS, OR ITS EMPLOYEES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

PART I

     SECTION 1.  In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2023-2024 has already been exceeded by $1,005,342,735 or 9.4 per cent.  The appropriations contained in this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2023-2024 to be further exceeded by ______________ or ____ per cent.  This declaration takes into account the additional general fund appropriation authorized for fiscal year 2023-2024 in this Act only.  The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

     (1)  The appropriations made in this Act are necessary to serve the public interest; and

     (2)  The appropriations made in this Act meet the needs addressed by this Act.

PART II

     SECTION 2.  The following sums or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 are appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii to the department of the attorney general for the purpose of satisfying claims for legislative relief as to the following named persons, firms, corporations, and entities, for claims against the State or its officers or employees, for the overpayment of taxes, or for refunds, reimbursements, payments of judgments or settlements, or other liabilities, in the amounts set forth opposite their names:

JUDGMENTS AGAINST THE STATE                           AMOUNT

AND SETTLEMENTS OF CLAIMS:

 

1.   MISCELLANEOUS CLAIMS:

 

     Employers Insurance Company of Wausau        $   147,657.77

 

     Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith          $    13,824.40

 

     Amy Chang                                   $        27.00

 

     County of Hawaii, Hawaii Fire Department     $   360,000.00

 

     James X He and Yue-Chuen C. Lin             $       559.00

 

     The Estate of Morris A. Inasaki             $       550.00

 

     Laura Ishii                                 $       120.00

 

     Matthew W. Payne                            $       445.00

 

     Chaniel Ramo                                $       167.00

 

     Two Spirits, Inc.                           $   358,413.97

 

     Wallace K. Yashima                          $     3,916.04

 

     Wallace Yashima & Hyang-Suk Yashima          $       746.00

______________

     SUBTOTAL:                                   $   886,426.18

 

2.   AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORP:

 

     Ohana Best LLC v. State of Hawaii, et al.    $ 1,250,000.00

     Civil No. 1CC-19-1001640, First Circuit        (Settlement)

______________

     SUBTOTAL:                                   $ 1,250,000.00

 

3.   DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

 

     Rodney Pagba v. Anne E. Lopez, et al.        $     5,707.00

     Civil No. 1CCV-19-0002046, First Circuit       (Settlement)

 

     Michael Santucci v. City and County          $    28,000.00

     of Honolulu, et al.                             (Judgment)

     Civil No. 22-cv-00142 DKW-KJM, USDC

 

     Todd Yukutake, et al. v. Anne E. Lopez       $    50,000.00

     Civil No. 22-cv-00323 JAO-WRP, USDC              (Judgment)

______________

     SUBTOTAL:                                   $    83,707.00

 

4.   DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:

 

     John Roe No. 122 v. State of Hawaii, et al.  $   450,000.00

     Civil No. 1CCV-19-0002046, First Circuit       (Settlement)

 

     Amanda Kelly v. Debra Farmer, et al.         $    50,000.00

     Civil No. 1CCV-20-0000825, First Circuit       (Settlement)

______________

     SUBTOTAL:                                   $   500,000.00

 

5.   DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES:

 

     Courtney Ledford v. Ethan Feguson, et al.    $ 1,250,000.00

     Civil No. 17-1-0416, Third Circuit             (Settlement)

______________

     SUBTOTAL:                                   $ 1,250,000.00

 

6.   DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY:

 

     Leinette Reyes, et al. v. Eric Tanaka        $ 2,000,000.00

     Civil No. 17-cv-00143 JAO-KJM, USDC            (Settlement)

______________

     SUBTOTAL:                                   $ 2,000,000.00

 

7.   HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY:

 

     Edwin Kalamau, Sr. v.                       $   107,695.12

     State of Hawaii, et al.                         (Judgment)

     Civil No. 1CCV-22-0000701, First Circuit

______________

     SUBTOTAL:                                   $   107,695.12

 

     TOTAL (SECTION 2):                          $ 6,077,828.30

 

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of the attorney general for the purposes of this Act.

PART III

     SECTION 3.  The following sums or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 are appropriated out of the state highway fund for the purpose of satisfying claims for legislative relief as to the following named persons, for claims against the State or its officers or employees for payments of judgments or settlements, or other liabilities, in the amount set forth opposite their names:

JUDGMENTS AGAINST THE STATE                           AMOUNT

AND SETTLEMENTS OF CLAIMS:

 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAYS DIVISION:

 

     Michelle Banks, et al. v.                   $ 3,900,000.00

     State of Hawaii, et al.,                     (Settlement)

     Civil No. 1CCV-22-0000089, First Circuit

 

     Bianca Chavez v. Department of              $   125,000.00

     Transportation, et al.,                       (Settlement)

     Civil No. 1CC191001542, First Circuit

 

     David Lawrence, et al. v. State of Hawaii    $ 2,950,000.00

     Civil No. 2CCV-22-0000273, Second Circuit      (Settlement)

 

     Patrick Mitchell, et al. v.                 $   125,000.00

     State of Hawaii, et al.,                      (Settlement)

     Civil No. 3CCV-20-0000024, Third Circuit

 

     Charles David Yandell, et al. v. State of    $   100,000.00

     Hawaii Department of Transportation, et al.,   (Settlement)

     Civil No. 5CCV-21-0000100, Fifth Circuit

______________

     SUBTOTAL:                                   $ 7,200,000.00

 

     TOTAL (SECTION 3):                          $ 7,200,000.00

 

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation, highways division, for the purposes of this Act.

PART IV

     SECTION 4.  The sums hereinabove may be paid to the respective persons, firms, corporations, or entities for the satisfaction or settlement of the respectively identified cases, and in several amounts hereinabove set forth or in lesser amounts deemed appropriate, upon checks issued by the comptroller; provided that departments shall obtain the approval of the attorney general before payment of any claim may be made.

     SECTION 5.  Notwithstanding the sums hereinabove stated as interest upon judgments against the State, payment of interest shall be limited to the period from the date of the judgment, if applicable, to thirty days after the effective date of this Act, as provided in section 662-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for those cases to which the statute applies.

     SECTION 6.  All unexpended and unencumbered balances of the appropriations made in this Act as of the close of business on June 30, 2025, shall lapse.

     SECTION 7.  If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

BY REQUEST

 

 

 

 

Report Title:

Claims Against the State

 

Description:

Makes appropriations and approves payments for claims against the State, its officers, and its employees.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.