STAND. COM. REP. NO.  927

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 1174

      S.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1174, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make emergency appropriations for costs associated with the operations of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for fiscal year 2012-2013.  Specifically, this measure appropriates:

     (1)  $126,690 to be used by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for personnel expenses;

     (2)  $85,654 for the purpose of providing protective services for the Lieutenant Governor; and

     (3)  $105,000 for building renovation, infrastructure and equipment, and other costs related to the operations of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Accounting and General Services, and Department of Public Safety supported this measure.

     This measure has been recommended by the Governor in Governor's Message No. 209 for immediate passage in accordance with Article VII, Section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution.

     Your Committee finds that the recent appointment of Senator Brian Schatz to the United States Senate and the subsequent succession of former Senate President Shan S. Tsutsui to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor resulted in unanticipated transition costs.

     The current budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor does not provide sufficient funds to:

     (1)  Continue staffing the Lieutenant Governor's Office;

     (2)  Train Department of Public Safety personnel and provide protection on Maui for the Lieutenant Governor; or

     (3)  Fund other operational costs relating to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

     Your Committee therefore finds that additional funding is necessary to enable Lieutenant Governor Tsutsui to perform his obligations and duties.

     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. 1174, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair