HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

506

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The cost of providing transportation for students in the State's public school system has risen with alarming speed in the past several years.  General funds spent on student transportation statewide have nearly tripled to $72,400,000 since 2006.  Although school buses provide an important service for students, the expense of providing such service cannot increase unchecked.

     In response to the continually escalating costs of providing bus transportation, the state auditor conducted a management audit of the department of education's school bus transportation services and released Report No. 12-07 to the governor and legislature in August 2012.  Among the findings made by the state auditor in the report was that the department of education includes within its contracts with school bus service providers a provision specifying that the department will pay the general excise taxes of these contractors.  The department of education, along with other state employees involved in preparing and reviewing these transportation service contracts, was unable to explain why this provision was included in the contracts.  Furthermore, one of the employees confirmed that it is unusual for a contract to specifically require a state agency to pay a contractor's general excise tax.

     The legislature agrees with the state auditor's:

     (1)  Finding that "[b]y agreeing to pay contractors' general excise tax liability, the department [of education] has added another price burden to school bus service contracts . . . and in doing so has failed to protect the State's interest . . . "; and

     (2)  Recommendation that chapter 237, Hawaii Revised Statutes, be amended to explicitly prohibit the State from paying or reimbursing contractors for general excise taxes.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 237, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§237-     Contractors; payment or reimbursement; prohibited.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the State shall not pay or reimburse contractors for any amount due to the State under this chapter by contractors."

     SECTION 3.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2030.


 


 

Report Title:

General Excise Tax; State; Contractors

 

Description:

Prohibits the State from paying or reimbursing contractors for the General Excise Tax.  Effective 07/01/2030.  (HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.