STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2151
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2006
RE: S.B. No. 2857
S.D. 1
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 S.B. No. 2857 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR NATURAL DISASTERS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to allow the governor, upon the declaration of an emergency, to release up to ten percent of the moneys appropriated from the emergency and budget reserve fund to provide assistance to residents and businesses that have sustained damage during or immediately after a natural disaster.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Department of Defense and one individual. Comments were received from the Department of Budget and Finance.
Residents and businesses of the State are often twice victimized when natural disasters strike. First, the damage caused by a natural disaster is often extensive and repair or replacement costs are prohibitive. Second, the emergency relief from governmental agencies to meet the immediate needs of victims is often delayed or unavailable for extended periods. For some victims of natural disasters, the delay in receiving emergency assistance can mean a total loss of their homes or businesses. Your Committee finds that there is an urgent need to provide victims with prompt emergency relief during or immediately after a natural disaster.
Your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that the ten percent appropriated must be from the interest earned from the fund.
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 S.B. No. 2857, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2857, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Government Operations,
____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair |
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