STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2285

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2781

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2781 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE INCOME CHECK-OFF,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the amount of authorized income tax check-off that may be designated payable from $2 to $4 from a state income tax refund for an individual and from $4 to $8 from a state income tax refund for a married couple filing jointly to the libraries special fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Taxation, Hawaii State Public Library System, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that library patrons' demand for library books and materials, including electronic resources of the Hawaii State Public Library System, are increasing every year. Since the initial adoption of the library special fund check-off in 2003, the collection of the Hawaii State Public Library System has transitioned from a paper-based collection to one that includes library materials in a variety of different and new formats to keep up with new technology and in response to the requests of library patrons statewide. This measure provides an opportunity for the public to increase their support to the Hawaii State Public Library System by making a contribution toward the purchase of additional library materials.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2781, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2781, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair