STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1407-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.C.R. No. 247

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.C.R. No. 247 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO WAIVE SINGLE STATE AGENCY REQUIREMENTS WITH REGARD TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS UNDER THE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the United States Congress to enact legislation to waive the requirement that a single state agency administer funds under the Homeland Security Grant Program.

     This measure also requests the United States Congress to provide state legislatures with authority to approve the allocation of funds under the Homeland Security Grant Program.

     Testimony in support of this measure was offered by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives.

     Your Committee finds that the requirement that a single state agency control the application and allocation of funds under the Homeland Security Grant Program is misplaced because it grants considerable discretion to one state agency for the allocation of funds.  This permits no oversight by the state legislature which, as the policy making branch of government, traditionally determines how financial resources should be allocated.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 247 and recommends that it 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