STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1617

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1345

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1345, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR NATURAL DISASTERS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to make emergency appropriations for emergency relief operations as a result of the October 15, 2006, Kiholo Bay earthquake.

 

     The measure also provides funds to ensure that water irrigation sources in the North Hawaii island are sustained for the agricultural sector.

 

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, the Department of Education, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Department of Accounting and General Services, the Department of Health, the University of Hawaii, the Judiciary, the Kohala Ditch Project Committee, the Mayor of Hawaii County, and the Daughters of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee has amended the measure by substituting its contents with Senate Bill No. 1431, S.D. 2, with minor changes, which provides the following:

 

     (1)  An appropriation of $900,000 for operational expenses associated with earthquake disaster recovery efforts, including, but not limited to national guard personnel on state active duty and helicopter operating expenses, also expenses associated with the October 15, 2006, Kiholo Bay earthquake disaster recovery efforts in the counties of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, and the city and county of Honolulu;

 

     (2)  An appropriation of $24,000,000 from the emergency and budget reserve fund for earthquake disaster recovery projects to include the twenty-five per cent non-federal cost share for all earthquake disaster recovery projects and the National Resources Conservation Service's watershed protection program; and

 

     (3)  Reporting to the Legislature by each department or agency expending funds authorized by this bill organized by county with expenditure summaries including dates, purpose and description, identification of recipients, and other related data.

 

     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 H.B. No. 1345, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1345, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair