FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2002
Contact: Rep. Dwight Takamine
(808) 586-6200

 

House Committee Earmarks Portion of Hurricane Relief Fund for Critical Needs

 

The House Finance Committee today amended House Bill 2654 authorizing the transfer of $100 million from the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to the general treasury to maintain critical State services, according to Rep. Dwight Takamine, chair, House Finance Committee.

The committee maintained the integrity of the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund with $100 million in general obligation bonds. "The fund will retain $113 million in cash and the authorization to issue $100 million in bonds in the event of a disaster," Takamine said.

Takamine said the transferred funds are being specifically earmarked for investment in the State's most critical need areas, such as education, after school care, rural health services, human services, and public health. "Clearly, as the shockwaves of the September attacks continue to economically strain Hawaii’s working families, this is the wrong time to slash essential services," he said.

The amended H.B. 2654 directs the $100 million to be spent on items such as:

Education

Higher Education

Health and Human Services

Crime, Public Safety

Other

The programs and services identified for funding in amended bill totals $83 million and Takamine said the remaining funds would be applied to the State's fund balance.

The measure now goes to the full House for approval.

####