STAND. COM. REP. NO. 44-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2500

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2500 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENSES OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE AUDITOR, THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU, THE OMBUDSMAN, AND THE ETHICS COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to provide for the expenses of the Legislature, Auditor, Legislative Reference Bureau, Ombudsman, and Hawaii State Ethics Commission.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Auditor, Office of the Ombudsman, Hawaii State Ethics Commission, House Chief Clerk's Office, and League of Women Voters of Hawaii. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Your Committee finds that this measure appropriates sufficient funds to defray the necessary expenses of the Senate and House of Representatives up to June 30, 2023, including session and nonsession expenses. Your Committee further finds that this measure also appropriates sufficient funds to defray the necessary expenses of the Office of the Auditor, Legislative Reference Bureau, Office of the Ombudsman, and Hawaii State Ethics Commission for fiscal year 2022-2023.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriation amount to the Legislative Reference Bureau to more accurately reflect the needs of the Bureau.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2500, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2500, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair