STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1564

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1298

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1298, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE FUNDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to transfer excess moneys from various funds to the general fund.

For the purpose of a public hearing, your Committee circulated a proposed S.D. 1 (Proposed Draft) of the measure and notified the public that your Committee would be accepting testimony on the Proposed Draft, which:

(1) Adds the following funds to the measure and authorizes transfer of the following amounts to the general fund:

(A) S-351-G-COVID19 RESPONSE: $7,000,000;

(B) S-309-H-STATE HEALTH PLANNING AND DEV.: $400,000;

(C) S-311-H-TRAUMA SYSTEM: $5,000,000;

(D) S-319-H-ELECTRONIC DEVICE RECYCLING: $1,000,000;

(E) S-331-H-EARLY INTERVENTION: $1,000,000;

(F) S-334-H-DISABILITY AND COMM ACCESS BOARD: $3,000,000; and

(G) S-340-H-ENVIRONMENTAL HTH PGM ENHANCE: $6,000,000; and

(2) Clarifies that the amounts to be transferred are indicated in dollars.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the Proposed Draft from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Land and Natural Resources; and University of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the Proposed Draft from the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Disability and Communication Access Board, State Health Planning and Development Agency, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Pacific Health, Wilcox Medical Center, Hawaii Coffee Association, and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on the Proposed Draft from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Public Safety, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Department of Taxation, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council.

Your Committee finds that the funds listed in this measure contain moneys in excess of what is necessary for the purposes of each of those funds and that the excess amounts should be transferred to the general fund.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the Proposed Draft and further amending the measure by deleting the following funds:

(1) S-333-M-INFORMATION MGMT & TECHNOLOGY SVCS;

(2) S-301-A-AGRICULTURAL LOAN RESERVE FUND;

(3) S-304-A-PEST INSPECTION, QUARANTINE & ERADICATION FUND;

(4) S-305-A-NON-AGRICULTURAL PARK LANDS SPECIAL FUND;

(5) S-308-A-SEAL OF QUALITY SPECIAL FUND;

(6) S-310-A-AQUACULTURE LOAN RESERVE FUND;

(7) S-319-A-GENERAL ADMINISTRATION FOR AGRICULTURE;

(8) S-321-A-AGR DEV/FOOD SECURITY - ADD;

(9) S-331-A-AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT & FOOD SECURITY;

(10) S-333-A-AGR DEV/FOOD SECURITY - PI;

(11) S-335-A-AGR DEV/FOOD SECURITY - ARM;

(12) S-337-A-AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH;

(13) S-354-A-HAWAII WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SPEC FUND;

(14) S-325-E-USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES FUND;

(15) S-314-H-NEUROTRAMA SPECIAL FUND;

(16) S-315-H-ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION;

(17) S-322-H-NOISE, RADIATION, & INDOOR AIR QUALITY SF;

(18) S-323-H-ASBESTOS & LEAD ABATEMENT SPECIAL FUND;

(19) S-368-K-NURSING FACILITY SUSTAINABILITY SP FUND;

(20) S-372-K-NURSING FACILITY SUSTAINABILITY SP FUND; and

(21) S-382-K-NURSING FACILITY SUSTAINABILITY PROG SF.

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. 1298, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1298, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair