STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1682

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 1679

      S.D. 2

      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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1679, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY AND BUDGET RESERVE FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help maintain program levels deemed essential to education, public health, and public welfare by making specific appropriations from the State's Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund.

     The Department of Education, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Honolulu County's Elderly Affairs Division, Kauai County's Agency on Elderly Affairs, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Hawaii Immigrant Justice Center, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, Waikiki Community Center, Community Children's Councils of Hawaii, Parents and Children Together, Kalihi-Palama Health Center, ILWU Local 142, Arc of Kauai, Hawaii Waiver Providers Association, Child & Family Service, Easter Seals Hawaii, Hawaii Family Forum, Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific Inc., Special Education Center Hawaii, Goodwill Industries of Hawaii Inc., Special Education Advisory Council, Arc in Hawaii, Arc of Hilo, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Fifty Plus Lifelong Fitness, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Budget and Finance opposed this measure.  The Department of Human Services, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and a concerned individual provided comments.

     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 S.B. No. 1679, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair