Appropriates funds for the office of the legislative analyst.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. In 1990, the legislature and the governor of Hawaii concluded that the legislature needed its own separate fiscal policy office and established the office of the legislative analyst through Act 347, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990. This office was intended to provide a true separation of powers between the executive and the legislative branches of government.

For many years, the legislature has relied on the executive branch for economic and fiscal analysis, including the use of borrowed personnel from the executive branch to assist the legislature’s money committees. As section 21F-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, articulates, this creates an inherent conflict of interest that precludes the legislature from operating independently.

This lack of independence from the executive branch further creates a conflict between the role and duties of these two branches of government as specified in the Hawaii state constitution. The legislature must have the ability to independently and in a bipartisan manner, review and analyze the budget, state economic conditions, state policies, overall tax structure, executive branch proposals, and performance of the executive branch in administering legislative enactments.

This lack of independent oversight inhibits the legislature from ensuring that approved appropriations are executed in compliance with legislative policy. In addition, it does not provide the necessary checks and balances that Hawaii's form of government requires to fulfill effectively government's trust to the people of Hawaii.

The office of legislative analyst was established to assist the legislature in maintaining effective oversight of state operations; to conduct objective audits and evaluations of state agency operations to ensure financial transactions have been made in a legal and proper manner; and to determine whether programs are administered effectively, efficiently, and in accordance with the policies of the legislature and the governor.

The legislature finds, however, that for ten years this office has existed in statute alone. It is essential that the duties of this office finally be implemented to enable the legislature to fulfill its mandate.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate the funds necessary to implement Act 347, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990, which established the office of the legislative analyst.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $350,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, for staffing, operating, and equipping the office of the legislative analyst.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of the legislative analyst for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.