STAND. COM. REP. NO.  454

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 149

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 149 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISASTER RELIEF,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide a one-time tax credit to victims of the October 15, 2005 earthquake.

     Your Committee received testimony from the Department of Defense which deferred to the Department of Taxation for comments and recommendations regarding the measure.

     On October 15, 2005, the biggest earthquake since 1975 rattled Hawaii with two seismographic tremors measuring 6.6 and 5.8, respectively.  Although lasting only fifteen seconds in most parts of the State, the rolling aftershock continued well after the initial shock on the island of Hawaii.

Nearly four months later, many families are still struggling to repair the damage caused by the earthquake.  Reports of inadequate compensation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency has left worried residents without the means to make necessary repairs.

This measure will provide state relief to those families in need of assistance to get their lives back to normal.

Your Committee has amended the measure for purposes of facilitating further discussion on this matter.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 149, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 149, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair