STAND. COM. REP. NO.272

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 913

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 913 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE LOSS MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make appropriations relating to the development and implementation of the loss mitigation grant program.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Hurricane Mitigation Task Force and four individuals.

Act 179, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 2002, codified as Article 22 of the Insurance Code, established the loss mitigation grant program for the insurance commissioner to make loss mitigation grants to install wind resistive devices. Section 431:22-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), created the loss mitigation grant fund for this purpose.

This measure appropriates funds into the loss mitigation grant fund, as authorized in section 431P-16, HRS, and appropriates funds out of the loss mitigation grant fund to the insurance commissioner to develop and implement the loss mitigation grant program. Although Act 179, SLH 2002, originally contained an appropriation for this purpose, it was line item vetoed.

This measure is intended as start-up moneys to implement the loss mitigation grant program which would allow homeowners to install wind resistive devices on their homes. The grants are an incentive for homeowners to harden their homes against hurricane.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 913 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing,

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair