STAND. COM. REP. NO.  3-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 677

      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 Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 677 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the cap on amounts to be paid for claims against the State without legislative approval to be adjusted for inflation using the consumer price index for Honolulu.

The Department of Accounting and General Services opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the basis for determining inflation from the consumer price index for Honolulu to the general consumer price index for all urban consumers;

     (2)  Specifying that the adjusted cap amount be published on the Department of Accounting and General Services's website;

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2014; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 677, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 677, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair