STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1640

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 573

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 573, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to strengthen the State's emergency response and recovery protocols.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes the Joint Legislative Emergency Response and Recovery Committee to make recommendations to the Legislature on matters relating to the emergency response of the State;

(2) Allows the Joint Legislative Emergency Response and Recovery Committee, under certain specified conditions, to convene when the Legislature is not in session; and

(3) Authorizes the Legislature to convene in a special session, in accordance with the State Constitution, to act on the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Emergency Response and Recovery Committee.

Your Committees received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that the establishment of a joint legislative committee having information-gathering, fact-finding, and advisory functions with respect to the State's emergency response and allocation of federal relief funding will facilitate a more coordinated and timely response to future emergencies, while also providing flexibility and discretion to the joint legislative committee and Legislature in deciding to convene.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the Joint Legislative Emergency Response and Recovery Committee may convene when the Legislature is not in session if the amount of emergency funds provided to the State by the financial relief package passed by the United States Congress exceeds $25,000,000; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 573, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 573, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair