Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1917, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to propose an amendment to the state constitution to establish a salary commission for the salaries of justices and judges, legislators, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and other executive branch officers.

This measure requires the commission to make salary recommendations to the legislature every six years. Furthermore, the recommended salaries will become effective unless the Legislature disapproves of all recommendations through a concurrent resolution during the legislative session in which the recommendation is submitted.

Your Committee finds that the state constitution currently establishes two different salary commissions for state officials, one commission is for legislators and the other commission is for justices and judges. The constitution does not establish a salary commission for executive branch officials, but merely specifies that the salaries of the governor and lieutenant governor are to be set "as provided by law". The constitution does not address the salaries of other executive branch officials.

Your Committee finds that having a single commission to recommend salary levels for state officials in all three branches of government will promote efficiency, consistency, and fairness for such an important expenditure of state funds.

Your Committee made technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and 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 H.B. No. 1917, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1917, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.