Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 2275 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation for statewide electricity payments for facilities assigned to the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committee finds that the steady rise in world oil prices has directly contributed in a $1,276,000 shortfall for fiscal year 2005-2006. Even with conservation measures, the electricity needed to run public buildings to sustain ongoing state operations is costing more simply because the cost per kilowatt hour is higher. DAGS cannot afford to absorb those higher costs without jeopardizing the provision of other services in the custodial services program that are necessary for health and safety.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2275, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.