STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2943

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2354

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2354, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE INCOME CHECK-OFF,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to change the amount of the authorized income tax check-off to the libraries special fund that may be designated from an individual taxpayer's income tax refund from $2 to an unspecified amount and from $4 to an unspecified amount for taxpayers filing a joint return.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Taxation, Hawaii State Public Library System, and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that demand for library books and materials by Hawaii State Public Library System patrons, including electronic resources, are increasing every year.  Since the initial adoption of the library special fund income tax check-off in 2003, the collection of the Hawaii State Public Library System has transitioned from a paper-based collection to one that includes library materials in a variety of different and new formats to keep up with new technology and in response to the requests of library patrons statewide.  This measure provides an opportunity for the public to increase their support to the Hawaii State Public Library System by making a contribution toward the purchase of additional library materials.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2354, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2354, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair