STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3120

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2884

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2884 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION SPECIAL FUND CARRYOVER BALANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the amount of funds that may be retained in the public utilities commission special fund at the end of each fiscal year.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Public Utilities Commission, Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Ulupono Initiative.

Your Committee finds that the current carryover balance of $1,000,000 has not been modified since 1994, even though the Public Utilities Commission has grown significantly in size in terms of responsibilities and operational costs since that time. Your Committee further finds that the $1,000,000 carryover balance is no longer sufficient to meet the Public Utilities Commission's start-of-year expenses.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on 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. 2884, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2884, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair