STAND. COM. REP. NO.1377

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 1303

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1303 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to specify that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is required to reimburse the State for contributions made by the State to the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund.

At present, the language of section 87A-39, Hawaii Revised Statutes, merely requires all state agencies having control of funds other than the general fund to make such reimbursements. The language in this bill clarifies that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is also subject to this requirement.

Your Committee has amended this bill by adding the contents of S.B. No. 1157, which increases the potential salary for the Administrator of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Currently, the Administrator's salary may not exceed that of the salary of department heads or executive officers established by law. The amendment provides that the Administrator's salary shall not be less than the salary of department heads or executive officers. Your Committee also added a cap by providing that the Administrator's salary shall not exceed the salary of the Governor.

Your Committee finds that the task of the Administrator of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is complex and demanding and that the Administrator deserves a salary at least equal to that of a department head. Your Committee further finds that a salary cap providing that the Administrator's salary not exceed that of the Governor is appropriate.

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. 1303, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1303, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair