CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO.230-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.B. No. 970

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 970, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR NATURAL DISASTERS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this bill is to provide emergency appropriations for the damage and destruction caused in the state by heavy rains and flooding in February and March 2006.

Your Committee on Conference finds that Governor's Message No. 260, requesting new funding totaling $50 million, was received by the Legislature on the 49th legislative day, following the 2nd Crossover deadline. The extremely late submittal of this information, 11 legislative days prior to Sine Die, has not provided the respective subject matter committees the opportunity to adequately consider the requests contained in this measure. However, your Committee remains responsive to the devastating effects of the heavy rains on our communities. Funds from the emergency and budget reserve fund (EBRF) are authorized in this measure where costs were directly attributable to rain damage caused by the unforeseen weather and could not be completely accounted for.

It is the intent of your Committee on Conference to have the administration report to the Legislature on the use of these funds, the amount spent, and the purpose for the expenditures. Once those expenditures are justified, your Committee on Conference envisions an appropriation made from the general fund into the EBRF.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying, clarifying, deleting, and adding the provisions that will receive appropriations;

(2) Adding appropriation amounts;

(3) Requiring the Governor to report on the uses of all funds appropriated by this bill; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for consistency, clarity, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 970, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 970, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

____________________________

KEN ITO, Co-Chair

____________________________

PONO CHONG, Co-Chair