Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3228, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide prompt emergency relief to residents or businesses of Hawaii for damages sustained from a natural disaster.

More specifically, this measure allows the Governor, upon the declaration of an emergency, to release up to ten per cent of the moneys in the emergency and budget reserve fund to provide assistance to residents and businesses that have sustained damages during or immediately after a natural disaster.

Your Committee acknowledges that, many times when natural disasters strike, emergency relief from governmental agencies to meet the immediate needs of victims is often delayed or unavailable for extended periods. This measure allows the Governor, upon the declaration of an emergency, to authorize the expenditure of moneys, not to exceed more that ten per cent of the total funds available in the emergency and budget reserve fund, to provide the needed immediate relief and assistance.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3228, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3228, S.D. 2.