Report Title:

Emergency Budget and Reserve Fund

Description:

Appropriates tobacco settlement moneys to the emergency budget and reserve fund to meet increased public health, safety, and welfare needs caused by an economic emergency.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

874

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO the EMERGENCY BUDGET AND RESERVE FUND.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The tragic events of September 11, 2001, thrust the United States and Hawaii into an economic whirlpool. The repercussions of the devastation in New York and Washington, D.C., were felt across the nation, and have had especially serious, negative effects on Hawaii's economy.

The legislature further finds that since the events of September 11th, the ongoing war on terrorism and potential future confrontations with other nations or groups that are violently opposed to the United States may impact heavily on the citizens and resources of this State. It is therefore incumbent upon the State to ensure that contingencies are in place should an attack on the United States or some other event cause hardship to Hawaii's residents.

The emergency budget and reserve fund was established by the legislature in 1999 to serve as a temporary source of supplemental funding for the State during times of crisis like the one we face today. The legislature finds that an appropriation of $33,270,403 for fiscal year 2003-2004 into the emergency budget and reserve fund is necessary to allow the State to provide for its public health, safety, and welfare needs.

This Act will take effect, however, only if the governor issues a proclamation declaring an economic emergency for any period during the interim between the 2003 and 2004 regular sessions of the legislature. An economic emergency is one in which there has been a two hundred per cent statewide increase in initial claims filed for unemployment benefits, other than claims resulting from a labor dispute, when compared with initial claims filed in the corresponding week of the preceding calendar year.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the Hawaii tobacco settlement special fund the sum of $33,270,403, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003—2004, to be deposited into the emergency budget and reserve fund.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purpose of this Act; provided that the appropriation authorized by this section shall be made only if the governor issues a proclamation as provided in section 3 before 5:00 p.m. on January 13, 2004.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect only if the governor issues a proclamation declaring an economic emergency for any period between May 2, 2003, to January 13, 2004, if the governor finds that, during this time period, there has been a two hundred per cent statewide increase in initial claims filed for unemployment benefits, other than claims resulting from a labor dispute, when compared with initial claims filed in the corresponding week of the preceding calendar year; provided that this Act shall be repealed on January 14, 2004.

INTRODUCED BY:

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