STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2710

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3046

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3046 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation to the Department of the Attorney General for the retention of expert witnesses and counsel in major litigation against the State of Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

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

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the emergency appropriation provided by this measure is necessary and appropriate because the State is involved in major litigation that requires a vigorous defense, including the retention of expert witnesses and specialized legal counsel.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on the measure.

Your Committee notes that the written comments submitted by the Department of the Attorney General in support of this measure included a request to amend this measure by increasing the amount of the emergency appropriation from $1,000,000 to $4,000,000 and including a provision specifying that the appropriated funds shall not lapse prior to June 30, 2023. Your Committee respectfully requests that subsequent committees consider this request as the measure moves through the legislative process.

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 S.B. No. 3046, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3046, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair