STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1356

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 222

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 222, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the operating budget of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for fiscal years 2013-2014 and 2014‑2015.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and one individual.

 

Your Committee recognizes the significance of the services and advocacy that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) provides its beneficiaries and acknowledges the need to ensure that OHA has sufficient resources to continue these services.

 

Your Committee has provided $250,000 in general funds and $250,000 in trust funds for 'Oiwi Television, Hawaii's first and only Native Hawaiian television station.  Your Committee is cognizant of OHA's focus on educational enrichment programs in the community, especially for Native Hawaiian K-12 programs.  As such, your Committee has provided $134,430 in general funds and $134,430 in trust funds for OHA to enhance academic services for its beneficiaries.  Your Committee understands the importance of health care and making health services accessible.  To this end, your Committee has provided $750,000 in general funds and $750,000 in trust funds for OHA's direct health services and prevention programs.

 

     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. 222, 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. 222, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair