STAND. COM. REP. NO.  627-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1830

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1830, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to support and provide legislative oversight of the University of Hawaii's energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainability, and energy conservation projects by:

 

(1)  Expressly authorizing legislative appropriations to be deposited into the University of Hawaii Green Special Fund (Special Fund);

 

(2)  Removing the expenditure threshold amount of Special Fund monies that triggers the requirement for legislative approval;

 

(3)  Authorizing Special Fund monies to be used for planning, design, and implementation of energy efficiency, energy conservation, and renewable energy projects; and

 

(4)  Requiring legislative approval for any expenditure of funds from the Special Fund.

     The University of Hawaii, Hawaii Energy, Ulupono Initiative, and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii supported this measure.

 

     While your Committee appreciates the testimony of the University of Hawaii that the legislative budget process will allow for oversight of state funds appropriated to the Special Fund, your Committee notes that this approval review process is only for legislative appropriations made to this fund.  Because the Special Fund will also contain private funds and grant monies deposited into it, notification to the Legislature of the use of these funds will ensure they are used wisely for energy efficiency projects and promote transparency and fiscal accountability.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by requiring notification to the Legislature, rather than legislative approval, for any expenditure from the Special Fund.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1830, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1830, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair