STAND. COM. REP. NO.  88-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2248

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2248 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide an emergency appropriation of $1,000,000 in general funds for the payment of costs associated with major litigation involving the State, including the retention of expert counsel and expert witnesses.

     Pursuant to requirements set forth in Article VII, Section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution, the Governor, in Governor's Message No. 183 to the Legislature, requested immediate consideration and passage of this bill by the Legislature to address funds necessary for the retention of expert witnesses and specialized legal counsel in major litigation against the State of Hawaii.

The Office of Elections and Department of Transportation testified in support of this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Lowering the emergency appropriation amount to $700,000;

     (2)  Specifying that emergency appropriation funds be used for the retention of expert counsel, expert witnesses, and other legal services; 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. 2248, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2248, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair