STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1565

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1299

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. 1299, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NON-GENERAL FUNDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal, abolish, or reclassify various non-general funds and transfer the balance of each repealed or abolished fund to the general fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Sheep and Goat Association, Hawaii Export Nursery Association, Hawaii Coffee Association, and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Public Safety, Department of Human Services, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Transportation, Department of Education, Department of Health, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Hawaii Tropical Flower Council, Orchid Growers of Hawaii, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council.

Your Committee finds that repealing or abolishing various non-general funds will promote government transparency and efficiency.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Repealing the definition of "water infrastructure special fund" in section 155-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Amending section 155-33(2), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to repeal a reference to the water infrastructure special fund; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 1299, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1299, 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,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair