STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2039

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 329

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 329, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISASTER RELIEF,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide for the continuation of recovery efforts to address the significant damage caused by the flooding events of April 2018.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Amends the disaster relief appropriations made in Act 12, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, to include flood mitigation measures;

(2) Extends the lapse dates of the appropriations to June 30, 2020; and

(3) Exempts the appropriations from certain restrictions on transfers of or changes to appropriations.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu, and Mayor of the County of Kauai.

Your Committee finds that this measure clarifies the scope of the appropriations made by Act 12, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, to include flood mitigation measures. Your Committee further finds that these flood mitigation measures will increase the disaster resilience of the areas affected by the April 2018 flooding events.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date from July 1, 2030, to upon approval; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 H.B. No. 329, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 329, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair