STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1124

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1045

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1045, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL COSTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make emergency appropriations for fiscal year 2024-2025 to the Department of Accounting and General Services and the Judiciary for payroll and fringe benefits of affected Department of Law Enforcement personnel.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Law Enforcement, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that section 3 of Act 164, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, as amended by Act 230, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, appropriated funds to the Department of Accounting and General Services for fiscal year 2024-2025 for transfer payments to the Department of Law Enforcement for payroll costs of sheriffs. Similarly, section 3 of Act 70, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, as amended by Act 233, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, appropriated general funds for fiscal year 2024-2025 to the Judiciary for transfer payments to the Department of Law Enforcement for payroll costs of sheriffs. While appropriations out of the general fund of the State exclude fringe benefit costs, fringe benefits must be included if an appropriation from a non-general fund is used to fund positions.

Your Committee further finds that because these aforementioned appropriations did not include fringe benefits, a critical funding shortage exists. This measure will address this shortage by appropriating additional funds to cover fringe benefit costs.

Your Committee notes that this measure contains an unspecified appropriation amount. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider inserting:

(1) An appropriation amount of $2,480,509 in fiscal year 2024-2025 for an interdepartmental transfer from the Department of Accounting and General Services to the Department of Law Enforcement for personnel costs, including payroll and fringe benefits; and

(2) An amount of $4,673,616 in fiscal year 2024-2025 an interdepartmental transfer from the Judiciary to the Department of Law Enforcement for personnel costs, including payroll and fringe benefits.

Your Committee further notes that this measure contains an unspecified monetary amount and an unspecified percentage in excess of the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider a inserting monetary amount of $8,551,795 or one percent for the amount by which the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 will be exceeded.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1045, H.D. 1, 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 and Military Affairs,

________________________________

BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair