Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 673, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to pay settlements or judgments for monetary claims against the State, its officers, and employees.

Your Committee finds that with this measure, the State will be able to pay its outstanding liabilities in a timely manner.

Your Committee expressed concern when it found that the attorney general had to settle a claim with Romy Nochi for $46. Your Committee heard from a representative of the attorney general that these claims could not be simply paid. Your Committee would like the attorney general to explore amending state law to allow these types of small claims to be paid from a fund versus having to go through a legal process.

Your Committee amended this measure by adding six additional claims to part I: a new section for three claims against the Department of Accounting and General Services; one claim (Moniz) for the Department of Education, and two claims (Baker and Bernard) for the Department of Public Safety. Your Committee has also made technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of style.

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. 673, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 673, S.D. 2.