CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 149

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2007

RE:    H.B. No. 1345

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 3

       C.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1345, H.D. 2, S.D. 3, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR NATURAL DISASTERS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate emergency funding for emergency relief operations statewide as a result of the October 15, 2006, Kiholo Bay earthquake disaster.

     Pursuant to the requirements set forth in Article VII, Section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution, the Governor, in Governor's Message No. 233 to the Legislature, requested immediate consideration and passage of this bill by the Legislature citing an existing critical funding shortage.

     This bill appropriates general funds for fiscal year 2006-2007 to cover:

(1)  Operational expenses associated with earthquake disaster recovery efforts, including but not limited to National Guard personnel on state active duty and helicopter operating expenses; and

(2)  The 25 percent non-federal cost share for earthquake disaster recovery projects eligible under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's public assistance program,

and requires expending agencies or departments to submit expenditure data reports.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the amount of the appropriation for operational expenses associated with earthquake disaster recovery efforts from $18,189,896 to $900,000 for fiscal year 2006-2007;

     (2)  Changing the general fund appropriation of $5,810,104 for the non-federal cost share for earthquake disaster recovery projects to the emergency and budget reserve fund appropriation of $24,000,000 for fiscal year 2006-2007;

     (3)  Clarifying specific earthquake disaster recovery projects for which the $24,000,000 appropriation is to be allocated;

     (4)  Requiring expending agencies or departments to submit annual expenditure reports; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1345, H.D. 2, S.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1345, H.D. 2, S.D. 3, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair	____________________________ CINDY EVANS, Co-Chair
____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Co-Chair	____________________________ SHARON E. HAR, Co-Chair