HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2011

 

COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Rep. Marcus R. Oshiro, Chair

Rep. Marilyn B. Lee, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Pono Chong

Rep. Chris Lee

Rep. Isaac W. Choy

Rep. Dee Morikawa

Rep. Denny Coffman

Rep. James Kunane Tokioka

Rep. Ty Cullen

Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita

Rep. Sharon E. Har

Rep. Barbara C. Marumoto

Rep. Mark J. Hashem

Rep. Gil Riviere

Rep. Linda Ichiyama

Rep. Gene Ward

Rep. Jo Jordan

 

 

NOTICE OF INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING

 

DATE:

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

TIME:

1:30 PM

PLACE:

Conference Room 308

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

A G E N D A

 

 

          Two of the most controversial issues that states are dealing with involve state budget shortfalls and unfunded liabilities of pension systems.  Two experts from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a bipartisan organization providing technical and research support to legislators and staff in all 50 states, will provide the Committee with information regarding these issues.

 

Corina Eckl, Fiscal Program Director, NCSL, will provide an update of:

·                                                                              Current fiscal conditions of all states;

·                                                                              Strategies being employed to meet budget shortfalls; and

·                                                                              Budget structural challenges.

 

Ron Snell, Senior Fellow, NCSL, will provide a briefing on:

·                                                                              Status of pension systems in all states; and

·                                                                              Legislation being proposed in states to deal with issues such as unfunded liabilities.

 

Corina Eckl, "Deep Holes, Few Options"; February 2011:

 

"Hit with the deepest recession since the Great Depression, state lawmakers in the past three years have confronted ballooning budget gaps triggered by steep revenue declines.  … Today’s budget lexicon features a new and widely used term—“the ARRA cliff”—that aptly describes how state policymakers view the end of the stimulus money.  … Recessions always generate new spending demands because more people become eligible for safety net programs such as Medicaid and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. But that’s not all. Some programs have been cut so deeply that agencies are seeking supplemental appropriations.

 

… These two developments—the end of ARRA funds and rising expenses—represent enormous challenges for state lawmakers as they begin work on their FY 2012 budgets. Even with state revenues starting to improve, the uptick won’t be enough to make up for those two factors.

 

 

 

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids and/or services to participate in the House public hearing process (i.e., sign or foreign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the Finance Committee staff at 586-6200 or email your request for an interpreter to HouseInterpreter@Capitol.hawaii.gov at least 24 hours prior to the hearing for arrangements.  Prompt requests submitted help to ensure the availability of qualified individuals and appropriate accommodations.

 

For further information, please call the Finance Committee staff at 586-6200.

 

Selected meetings are broadcast live.  Check the current legislative broadcast schedule on the "Capitol TV" Web site at www.capitoltv.org OR call 536-2100.

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. Marcus R. Oshiro

Chair