Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2790 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a check-off block on the State's income tax return to allow public support to the Hawaii State Public Library System's need for additional funds for library books and materials.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the State Librarian, and comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation.

Your Committee finds that the costs of library materials have risen about eleven per cent annually since 1992, and the special funds for fines and enhanced service fees have been declining. The $2 designation will assist the Hawaii State Public Library System to purchase library books and materials to keep up with the increasing demands to provide materials in new formats, to keep up with technology, and to respond to the needs of their respective community libraries.

Your Committee has amended this measure by using the term "refund" rather than "liability" to prevent reduction of revenues going to the general fund. Nonsubstantive, technical amendments have been made as well.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2790, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2790, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.