STAND. COM. REP. NO. 246

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1194

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1194 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY RELATING TO COVID-19 EXPENDITURES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide emergency appropriations to the Department of Public Safety to continue funding for various coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic response related programs and activities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and resulting COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to global, national, and state economies. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was enacted on March 27, 2020, to address the extensive health and economic fallout of the COVID‑19 pandemic and provided federal funds to support the State's COVID-19 relief efforts. With the expiration of federal CARES Act funds, your Committee finds that additional funds are needed to continue critical COVID-19 response programs and activities within the Department of Public Safety for the remainder of fiscal year 2020-2021. This measure will appropriate funds for the purpose of COVID-19 response activities and provide transparency and accountability for the use of those funds by the Department of Public Safety.

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 S.B. No. 1194 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,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair