STAND. COM. REP. NO. 302

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1170

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 1170 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require certain audits and studies enacted with a legislative appropriation to be submitted to the clerk of each house, presiding officers of each house, and chairs of the appropriate subject matter committee of each house; and

 

     (2)  Require a public hearing or informational briefing on certain audits and studies enacted with a legislative appropriation within one year of receipt of the report unless the requirement is waived.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Auditor; United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO; and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that studies and audit reports required by legislative action often go unexamined and unnoticed, while the reports may contain valuable information that deserves a forum to be appropriately reviewed and considered.  Your Committee finds that requiring a public hearing or informational briefing on certain studies and audit reports funded by legislative appropriation is reasonable to ensure the fiscal accountability of appropriating funds to conduct such studies and reports.

 

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that studies and audits enacted in a budget measure or with a legislative appropriation are subject to the hearing requirement;

 

     (2)  Clarifying that subject matter committee chairs of the respective study or audit are the persons to receive the study or audit;

 

     (3)  Providing a mechanism for an extension of time to hold a public hearing or informational briefing on the studies and audits; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1170, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1170, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair