STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 469-22
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2022
RE: H.B. No. 1586
H.D. 2
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2022
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1586, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISASTER RESPONSE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Repeal language authorizing the Department of Education to retain federal disaster relief funds;
(2) Clarify that all federal funds received by the State for reimbursement of disaster-related expenses shall first be applied to the originating fund used by the department or agency for payment of disaster relief expenses; with funds to be returned to the general fund upon the lapse of the original appropriation;
(3) Require each state agency to submit an annual report to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency of certain information relating to funds expended for disaster response;
(4) Require the Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to submit an annual report to the Legislature on the status of federal reimbursement monies for disaster response and disaster response spending by each state agency; and
(5) Appropriate funds to the Department of Defense for disaster response efforts.
Your Committee finds that Hawaii is prone to many natural disasters, including hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and wildfires. Various state departments and agencies have had to respond to these natural disasters as quickly as possible by utilizing their funds for disaster response efforts and then applying for federal reimbursement. Your Committee further finds that state departments and agencies may wait months or years to receive federal reimbursement and are forced to take funds from current operating expenses to cover for the delayed reimbursements, thereby forcing cuts or program changes in the department.
Your Committee notes that, out of necessity, the Department of Education expends appropriations to provide disaster relief from appropriation made for different purposes, including lump sum capital improvement program funds. If the Department of Education were to undertake the considerable additional administrative workload required to maximize federal funding, the Department would need authorization to receive and retain federal disaster relief reimbursements for expenditures made.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Restoring statutory language authorizing the Department of Education to retain federal disaster relief funds;
(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2051; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1586, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1586, H.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair |
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