Report Title:

Office of the Legislative Analyst; Appropriation

Description:

Funds the office of the legislative analyst only to the extent that the office monitor the receipt and expenditures of federal funds received by the State and to review and make recommendations to the legislature regarding the administration and efficacy of the expenditures.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2259

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, unlike most states, the Hawaii legislature does not have a separate and independent fiscal policy office to provide revenue and expenditure data and analyses. This anomaly places the legislature at a distinct disadvantage when reviewing the state executive budget, because state budget data and analyses are generated by the entity being reviewed -- the executive branch of the State.

The lack of budget data that is independently researched and analyzed not only compromises the tenant of "separation of powers" -- which requires a distinct separation of, and independence by, the three branches of government, but it also prevents the legislature from exercising its right to "check" the executive branch with accurate and challenging data, to "balance" the power of the three branches of state government.

The purpose of this Act is to provide the legislature with the ability to generate its own budget data and analyses by funding the dormant office of the legislative analyst. As a first step, rather than fully funding the office as contemplated by the law establishing the office, this Act only funds that portion of the office necessary to monitor receipts and expenditures of federal funds as it applies to the State; provided that the appropriation may be increased in the future to accommodate other duties of the office.

SECTION 2. Section 21F-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) The purpose of the office of the legislative analyst shall be:

(1) To provide the legislature with research and analysis of current and projected state revenues and expenditures;

(2) To provide the legislature with a report analyzing the governor's proposed levels of revenue and expenditures for biennial budgets submitted under chapter 37 as well as other supplemental budget submittals to the legislature by the governor;

(3) To provide an analysis of the impact of the governor's proposed revenue and expenditure plans for the next biennium;

(4) To conduct research matters of economic and fiscal policy and to report to the legislature on the result of the research;

(5) To provide economic reports and studies on the state of the State's economy, including trends and forecasts for consideration by the legislature;

(6) To conduct budget and tax studies and provide general fiscal and budgetary information;

(7) To review and make recommendations on the operation of state programs in order to appraise the implementation of state laws regarding the expenditure of funds and to recommend means of improving their efficiency; [and]

(8) To recommend to the legislature changes in the mix of revenue sources for programs, in the percentage of state expenditures devoted to major programs, and in the role of the legislature in overseeing state government expenditures and revenue projections[.]; and

(9) To monitor the receipt and expenditures of federal funds received by the State and to review and make recommendations to the legislature regarding the administration and efficacy of the expenditures."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the purpose of funding the office of legislative analyst established under chapter 21-F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the sole purpose of monitoring receipt and expenditures of federal funds received by the State and reviewing and making recommendations to the legislature regarding the administration and efficacy of the expenditures.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the legislature for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 3 and 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2006.

INTRODUCED BY:

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