STAND. COM. REP. NO.  178-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3367

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 3367 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WIRELESS ENHANCED 911,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the proper collection and expenditure of funds to support wireless enhanced 911 service by:

(1)  Suspending the Wireless Enhanced 911 Surcharge (Surcharge) indefinitely;

(2)  Providing that funds expended from the Wireless Enhanced 911 Fund (Fund) for reimbursement of capital costs will supplement, but not replace, funds regularly appropriated by the counties; and

(3)  Requiring the Wireless Enhanced 911 Board (Board) to annually present a plan to the Legislature prior to each regular legislative session that:

(A)  Specifies a surcharge necessary to meet its expenses and planned expenditures for the next two fiscal years; and

(B)  Proposes to refund surplus surcharge funds.

     The Department of Accounting and General Services and Honolulu Police Department opposed this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Reducing the Surcharge to 43 cents;

(2)  Including as operating costs to be paid by the counties, any charges for ongoing service provided by the local exchange carrier;

(3)  Requiring the Auditor to conduct a financial and management audit of the Fund; and

(4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 3367, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3367, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair