HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1732
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the legislature.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 24, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§24-   Allowance for Oahu legislator during session. A member of the legislature whose legal residence is on the island of Oahu shall receive an additional allowance to cover all personal expenses that are incurred while on official legislative business, such as incidental expenses but not travel expenses.  The allowance under this section shall be set at a single rate that will:

(1) Not exceed the greater of the maximum allowance for such expenses payable to any public officer or employee of the federal government or the State;

(2) Be reasonably calculated to cover the expenses specified in this section; and

(3) Be determined jointly by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives for the legislature as a whole.

The allowance shall be paid to each member at the rate prescribed for each day, from the first to the last day of each session, including Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and days of recess pursuant to the mandatory recess required by article III, section 10, of the Constitution or a concurrent resolution, except for days of recess when a session of the legislature is recessed for more than three days pursuant to a concurrent resolution and for days of unexcused absence of the member from a meeting of the respective house."

     SECTION 2.  Section 24-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§24-4  Allowance for expenses while on official legislative business during period of recess and interim official legislative business.  When a session of the legislature is recessed for more than three days pursuant to a concurrent resolution or for any interim official legislative business, a member of the legislature while on official legislative business on the island of the member's legal residence and when authorized by the presiding officer of the respective house, shall receive an allowance of [$10] $50 a day to cover personal expenses.

     When a session of the legislature is recessed for more than three days pursuant to the mandatory recess required by article III, section 10, of the Constitution or a concurrent resolution or for any interim official legislative business, a member of the legislature who is required to remain away from the island of the member's legal residence but within the State overnight or longer while on official legislative business and when authorized by the presiding officer of the respective house, shall receive an allowance to cover all personal expenses such as board, lodging, and incidental expenses but not travel expenses.  The allowance under this section shall be set at a single rate that will:

     (1)  Not exceed the greater of the maximum allowance for such expenses payable to any public officer or employee of the federal government or the State;

     (2)  Be reasonably calculated to cover the expenses specified in this section; and

     (3)  Be determined jointly by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives for the legislature as a whole."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Legislative Allowance; Per Diem

Description:

Allows Oahu legislators to receive an allowance during session set by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Increases the allowance for expenses while on official legislative business during recess and the interim.  Effective July 1, 2014.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.