STAND. COM. REP. NO. 817

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 667

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 667, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR FLOOD LOSSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make emergency appropriations to pay for flood damage suffered by the University of Hawaii at Manoa as a result of the October 30, 2004 flood.

The bill makes an emergency appropriation for fiscal year 2004-2005:

(1) Of $25,000,000 out of the state risk management revolving fund; and

(2) Of $25,000,000 out of general revenues.

The funds appropriated are to be expended by the Department of Accounting and General Services and the University of Hawaii, respectively.

On the evening of October 30, 2004, a flash flood swept through the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus, causing millions of dollars in infrastructure damage, the loss of years of irreplaceable research in the Biomedical Sciences Building, and historical government documents and other books, collections, and articles at the Hamilton Library. Power was lost for some time in at least thirty-five buildings on campus. Classes were canceled for several days because of the damage and destruction.

Your Committee finds that the moneys appropriated by this measure will assist the University of Hawaii in recovering from the drastic effects of the flood of October 30, 2004. The funds will be used to assist the University of Hawaii in its continuing recovery from the flood damage and to reimburse the University of Hawaii for funds already expended to clean, repair, and replace damaged or destroyed property on campus.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical amendments to clarify that the amount provided is $25,000,000 from general funds and not $25,000,000 each from both the state risk management fund and the general fund.

This measure also has been amended to delete inaccurate language stating that the bill's appropriations exceeded the current spending ceiling. Technical, nonsubstantive amendments have been made for the purposes of clarity and style.

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 S.B. No. 667, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 667, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair