STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1384

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1195

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1195, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FEDERAL WORKERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Department of Budget and Finance to provide interest-free loans to federal workers who have been affected by the federal shutdown furlough to cover current mortgage or rent payments; and

(2) Make an emergency appropriation to provide the funding for the loans.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Rainbow Family 808 and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the federal shutdown furlough adversely affected more than 2,500 Hawaii residents. These federal employees were either furloughed (not working) or excepted (working without pay). Due to the federal shutdown furlough, some of these affected federal employees have had to seek out other methods of financing to make ends meet, such as borrowing from friends or financial institutions or getting a second job. While some affected federal employees are eligible for unemployment compensation, others are not and benefits may not be enough to cover their current expenses such as mortgage or rent payments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1195, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair