STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2193

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2553

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2553 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NON-GENERAL FUNDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal and abolish certain non-general funds and accounts of the Department of Human Services, as recommended by the Auditor in Report No. 15‑19.

     Specifically, this measure repeals or abolishes the:

     (1)  Child Care Licensing and Registration Special Fund;

     (2)  Housing Project Bond Special Funds;

     (3)  Blueprint for Change Program Special Fund;

     (4)  Costs Related to Homeless Assistance Special Fund;

     (5)  Hale Mahaolu Special Fund;

     (6)  Hawaii Immigrant Health Initiative Program Special Fund;

     (7)  Outreach Services Special Fund;

     (8)  Outreach Services to Locate Uninsured Children Special Fund;

     (9)  Outstationed Eligibility Worker Services Special Fund;

     (10) Shelter Plus Care Program Special Fund;

     (11) Support Domestic Violence Shelters Statewide Special Fund;

     (12) Financial Assistance for Housing Special Fund;

     (13) Department of Human Services Homeless Trust Fund;

     (14) Geist Foundation Trust Account;

     (15) Kahikolu Ohana O Waianae Project Trust Fund; and

     (16) Recruitment of Foster Parents Trust Account.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Auditor.  Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that, in 2015, the Auditor reviewed various non-general funds and accounts, including an evaluation of the original purpose of each fund and account and the degree to which each fund and account continues to serve its intended purpose.  Your Committee further finds that the Auditor concluded that the funds and accounts repealed and abolished by this measure no longer serve their intended purpose or meet statutorily-established criteria.  Accordingly, your Committee believes that it is appropriate to repeal and abolish these non-general funds and accounts and to transfer any remaining unencumbered balances to the emergency and budget reserve fund or general fund, as specified in the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2553 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 Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair