STAND. COM. REP. NO.  954

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1943

      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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1943 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR THE DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to cover unanticipated expenses of the Deposit Beverage Container Program (Program) because the number of deposit beverage containers actually sold will quickly exceed estimates of two years ago, which will increase program costs.

     Pursuant to the requirements set forth in Article VII, Section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution, the Governor, in her Governor's Message No. 241 to the Legislature, requested immediate consideration and passage of this bill by the Legislature citing an existing critical funding shortage.

     This bill appropriates $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2006-2007 from the Deposit Beverage Container Deposit Special Fund to be used to:

     (1)  Reimburse deposit beverage container refund values;

     (2)  Pay handling fees to redemption centers; and

     (3)  Pay for operating costs of the Program for deposit beverage container activities.

The appropriation is to be expended by the Department of Health (DOH).

     DOH supported this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1943, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1943, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair