STAND. COM. REP. NO.  734

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1200

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1200 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BUDGET OF THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds for the biennial budget of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  Specifically, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is requesting:

 

(1)  $2,085,696 from the general fund and $3,098,206 from the trust fund for fiscal year 2007-2008 and $2,119,663 from the general fund and $3,190,167 from the trust fund for fiscal year 2008-2009, for beneficiary advocacy; provided that:

 

(A)  $415,000 from the general fund and $415,000 from the trust fund for each year of fiscal biennium 2007-2009 is to be used to provide social services to Office of Hawaiian Affairs beneficiaries, including information and referral services, case management and counseling, establishment of individual development accounts, financial literacy, and financial assistance;

 


(B)  $490,433 from the general fund and $490,433 from the trust fund for fiscal year 2007-2008 and $524,400 from the general fund and $524,400 from the trust fund for fiscal year 2008-2009 is to be used to provide educational enrichment programs to Native Hawaiian schoolchildren throughout the state; and

 

(C)  $592,302 from the general fund and $592,302 from the trust fund in each year of fiscal biennium 2007-2009 is to be used to provide legal services and legal representation to Office of Hawaiian Affairs beneficiaries;

 

(2)  $31,149 from the general fund and $272,193 from the trust fund for fiscal year 2007-2008 and $31,149 from the general fund and $284,608 from the trust fund for fiscal year 2008-2009 for Office of Hawaiian Affairs operating expenses;

 

(3)  $936,263 from the general fund and $2,837,087 from the trust fund for fiscal year 2007-2008 and $936,263 from the general fund and $2,952,722 from the trust fund for fiscal year 2008-2009 for Office of Hawaiian Affairs administration operating expenses; and

 

(4)  $56,040,000 for fiscal biennium 2007-2009 for capital improvement projects funds for the design, construction, and equipment for a new Kakaako Culture Center and office building, of which $28,020,000 is from the issuance of general obligation bonds and the remaining $28,020,000 is matching funds from the trust fund.

 

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Na Pua No'eau testified in support of this bill.

 

     The Kakaako Cultural Center would be a focal point for the Hawaiian community to address the issues and concerns of all Hawaiians for the betterment of their health, cultural lifestyle, and economic well-being.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1200 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair