STAND. COM. REP. NO. 202

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 640

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Economic Development and Technology and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 640 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WIRELESS ENHANCED 911 FUND,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require:

     (1)  The independent audit of the Wireless Enhanced 911 Fund to be conducted annually rather than biannually, with the initial annual audit to be conducted in 2011 and the results to be reported to the Legislature in 2012; and

     (2)  That information on the status of projects undertaken or planned by public safety answering points, and the results of the annual independent audit, be included in the Wireless Enhanced 911 Board's annual report to the Legislature.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Wireless Enhanced 911 Board.

     Your Committees find that as communication technology advances, systems and equipment costs will increase, and the Wireless Enhanced 911 Fund monies will be critical to meet these emerging needs.  Requiring an annual audit and specific reporting on the status of projects will enable the Legislature and the Wireless Enhanced 911 Board to make informed decisions regarding the upgrades most critical to meet public safety needs.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development and Technology and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 640 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development and Technology and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair