CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 184-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 582

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 582, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to make emergency appropriations, and reallocate certain state moneys, to fund the State's response to the August 2023 wildfires on the island of Maui.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Makes emergency appropriations for certain Federal Emergency Management Agency-eligible and Federal Emergency Management Agency-ineligible costs related to the August 2023 Maui wildfires;

(2) Makes an emergency appropriation to fund the One Ohana Bank Trust Account to compensate Maui wildfire victims;

(3) Repeals the general obligation bond appropriation for the Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust Fund and the Pension Accumulation Fund;

(4) Temporarily lifts various restrictions on the use of the Major Disaster Fund and extends the lapse date of certain disaster relief funds to allow continued expenditures for the wildfire relief efforts; and

(5) Requires the state Department of Defense and the Governor to submit reports on expenditures and federal reimbursements related to the August 2023 Maui wildfires.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the State's total expenses for Hawaii's response to the August 2023 Maui wildfires are expected to exceed the $199,100,000 allocated to the Major Disaster Fund for initial wildfire response and recovery efforts. The emergency appropriations and reallocation of funds authorized by this measure are necessary so that the State may continue to aid displaced individuals and families, restore crucial infrastructure, and implement measures to prevent future wildfires.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the appropriation to the Departmental Administration and Budget Division of the Department of Budget and Finance for noncongregate housing and other expenses related to the Maui wildfires by:

(A) Changing the appropriation amount from $292,400,000 to $297,000,000; and

(B) Providing that no funds shall be transferred unless matched by at least $40,000,000 in private funds;

(2) Deleting the appropriation to the Departmental Administration and Budget Division of the Department of Budget and Finance for services, goods, or construction that are eligible for partial federal reimbursement via certain public assistance programs;

(3) Deleting a provision repealing the general obligation bond appropriation for the Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust Fund and the Pension Accumulation Fund;

(4) Deleting a provision limiting the use of federal reimbursement moneys for the Maui wildfires disaster to expenditures for the State's share of services, goods, or construction that are eligible for partial federal reimbursement via certain public assistance programs, and making conforming amendments;

(5) Deleting reporting requirements for the Governor and state Department of Defense on expenditures and federal reimbursements relating to the August 2023 Maui wildfires disaster;

(6) Changing the effective date from July 1, 3000, to upon the measure's approval;

(7) Changing the repeal and reenactment date of sections 37‑41.5 and 127A-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, from July 1, 2029, to July 1, 2026;

(8) Changing the lapse date from July 1, 2029, to June 30, 2026, for any unencumbered trust account moneys retained in the account to be used for the recovery efforts from the Maui wildfires disaster that began on August 8, 2023;

(9) Reordering certain sections of the measure for clarity; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 582, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 582, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ KYLE T. YAMASHITA Chair	____________________________ TROY N. HASHIMOTO Chair
	____________________________ LYNN DECOITE Co-Chair