STAND. COM. REP. NO.  950-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2773

      H.D. 3

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2773, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WEED AND SEED PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in Hawaii's neighborhoods by:

     (1)  Permanently establishing the Weed and Seed Program within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations;

     (2)  Appropriating funds for a grant to the Young Men's Christian Association of Honolulu to support the operations of the Weed and Seed Program through the Office of Community Services of the Department; and

     (3)  Appropriating $336,000 to maintain current operations of the Weed and Seed Program and expand the Weed and Seed Program into other areas of the State.

The Honolulu Police Department, Gentry Homes, Ltd., and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Office of Community Services of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and Department of Human Services provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation to maintain current operations of the Weed and Seed Program and expand the Weed and Seed Program into other areas of the State from $336,000 to an unspecified amount;

     (2)  Stipulating that the grant funds for the Young Men's Christian Association of Honolulu shall be issued in accordance with the requirements under Hawaii's grants and subsidies law (Chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes); and

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

     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 H.B. No. 2773, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2773, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair