STAND. COM. REP. NO.  592

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 993

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 993 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION, RELATING TO THE DISPOSITION OF PROJECTED EXCESS REVENUES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to encourage fiscal responsibility by amending the Hawaii Constitution to route a portion of projected general fund revenues increases to an emergency and budget reserve fund established by law.  This bill sets seven percent as the percentage activating the disposition.

     The Hawaii Government Employees Association testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Budget and Finance testified in opposition to this measure.  The Tax Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

     Upon further reflection, your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Removing the purpose section; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 993, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 993, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JON RIKI KARAMATSU, Chair