STAND. COM. REP. NO.  239

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 60

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 60 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NON-GENERAL FUNDS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to reclassify or abolish certain funds consistent with the Auditor's recommendations as reported in Review of Special Funds, Revolving Funds, Trust Funds, and Trust Accounts of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Report No. 20-18).

 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Public Utilities Commission, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric Company, and State Farm Insurance Company.

 

     Your Committee notes that testimony disagreed with the Auditor over the reclassification of the Insurance Commissioner's Education and Training Fund from a trust fund to a special fund.  Testimony notes that the funds in the Commissioner's Education and Training Fund provide benefits to a discrete class of persons by providing essential training to employees in the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

 

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the reclassification of the Insurance Commissioner's Education and Training Fund;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Your Committee notes that by abolishing the Electrical Vehicle Charging System Rebate Program Special Fund, the Public Utilities Commission will need funding in excess of the existing ceiling on the Public Utilities Commission Special Fund to accomplish the purpose of the Electrical Vehicle Charging System Rebate Program.  Should your Committee on Finance consider this measure, your Committee requests that it consider $400,000 as an appropriate amount of an increase to accomplish the purpose of the Program.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 60, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 60, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair