HB 1296: Governor; Major Disaster Fund; Notice Requirement; Reporting Requirement

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE MAJOR DISASTER FUND.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the devastating wildfires brought on by winds from hurricane Dora on August 8, 2023, resulted in one of the worst natural disasters in the State's history.  The wildfires caused loss of life and the displacement of thousands on the island of Maui.  The disaster also destroyed nearly all of Lahaina.

     The legislature further finds that to support response and recovery efforts and address immediate 2023 Maui wildfire funding needs, the governor, through several emergency proclamations relating to wildfires and other executive powers, has redirected appropriations from selected general fund operating appropriations originally intended for specific purposes and capital improvement projects, to the department of budget and finance.  The department of budget and finance subsequently transferred funds to the major disaster fund.  With the veto of S.B. No. 3068, C.D. 2 (2024), and in light of the provisions of S.B. No. 582, C.D. 1 (2024), provisions regarding transparency and accountability for the use of appropriations redirected no longer exist in statute.

     The legislature believes that full transparency and accountability requires a full accounting of all appropriations transferred and deposited into the major disaster fund, and all reimbursements of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds received by the major disaster fund.  In addition, assessing the impacts to departments of the transfers made from various appropriations is vital to ensuring that programs from which funding was transferred remain effective.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish timely notice and reporting requirements to the legislature regarding the transfer of appropriations to the major disaster fund.

     SECTION 2.  Section 127A-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  No later than [sixty] thirty days after any allotment or transfer by the governor or the expenditure of any fund moneys, the administrator shall report to the legislature on the purpose of the allotment, transfer, or expenditure.  The report shall:

     (1)  Describe the allotment, subsequent use of the transferred funds, or the expenditure; and

     (2)  Include an accounting for Federal Emergency Management Agency eligible and ineligible expenses that specify:

          (A)  The date of allotment, transfer, or expenditure;

          (B)  The amount of allotment, transfer, or expenditure;

          (C)  The program identification number from which funds were transferred or expended;

          (D)  The program identification number to which funds were transferred;

          (E)  The impact on the program identification number from which funds are transferred or expended; and

          (F)  A detailed explanation of:

              (i)  The uses of the resources transferred or expended; and

             (ii)  The public purposes served by the transfer of the resources."

     SECTION 3.  No later than October 1, 2025, the governor and administrator of the Hawaii emergency management agency shall submit to the legislature a summary report containing the information specified in section 2 of this Act for the previous fiscal year.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025, and shall be repealed on July 1, 2026; provided that section 127A-16(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be repealed and reenacted in the form in which it read prior to the effective date of this Act.

Report Title:

Governor; Major Disaster Fund; Notice Requirement; Reporting Requirement

Description:

Establishes timely notice and reporting requirements to the Legislature by the Governor regarding the transfer of appropriations to the Major Disaster Fund.  Effective 7/1/2025.  Sunsets 7/1/2026.  (CD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE MAJOR DISASTER FUND.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the devastating wildfires brought on by winds from hurricane Dora on August 8, 2023, resulted in one of the worst natural disasters in the State's history.  The wildfires caused loss of life and the displacement of thousands on the island of Maui.  The disaster also destroyed nearly all of Lahaina.

     The legislature further finds that to support response and recovery efforts and address immediate 2023 Maui wildfire funding needs, the governor, through several emergency proclamations relating to wildfires and other executive powers, has redirected appropriations from selected general fund operating appropriations originally intended for specific purposes and capital improvement projects, to the department of budget and finance.  The department of budget and finance subsequently transferred funds to the major disaster fund.  With the veto of S.B. No. 3068, C.D. 2 (2024), and in light of the provisions of S.B. No. 582, C.D. 1 (2024), provisions regarding transparency and accountability for the use of appropriations redirected no longer exist in statute.

     The legislature believes that full transparency and accountability requires a full accounting of all appropriations transferred and deposited into the major disaster fund, and all reimbursements of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds received by the major disaster fund.  In addition, assessing the impacts to departments of the transfers made from various appropriations is vital to ensuring that programs from which funding was transferred remain effective.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish timely notice and reporting requirements to the legislature regarding the transfer of appropriations to the major disaster fund.

     SECTION 2.  Section 127A-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  No later than [sixty] thirty days after any allotment or transfer by the governor or the expenditure of any fund moneys, the administrator shall report to the legislature on the purpose of the allotment, transfer, or expenditure.  The report shall:

     (1)  Describe the allotment, subsequent use of the transferred funds, or the expenditure; and

     (2)  Include an accounting for Federal Emergency Management Agency eligible and ineligible expenses that specify:

          (A)  The date of allotment, transfer, or expenditure;

          (B)  The amount of allotment, transfer, or expenditure;

          (C)  The program identification number from which funds were transferred or expended;

          (D)  The program identification number to which funds were transferred;

          (E)  The impact on the program identification number from which funds are transferred or expended; and

          (F)  A detailed explanation of:

              (i)  The uses of the resources transferred or expended; and

             (ii)  The public purposes served by the transfer of the resources."

     SECTION 3.  (a)  No later than            the department of budget and finance shall submit to the legislature a detailed report containing the information specified in section 2 of this Act for each appropriation, transfer, reimbursement, subsequent use of funds, and interest earned on federal reimbursement moneys from August 8, 2023, through           .

     (b)  No later than thirty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2026 and 2027, the governor shall submit to the legislature a summary report containing the information specified in section 2 of this Act for each use of this authority for the previous twelve-month period from December 1, to November 30 of each year.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2027.

Report Title:

Governor; Major Disaster Fund; Notice Requirement; Reporting Requirement

Description:

Establishes timely notice and reporting requirements to the Legislature by the Governor regarding the transfer of appropriations to the Major Disaster Fund.  Sunsets 6/30/2027.  Effective 6/30/3000.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE MAJOR DISASTER FUND.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the devastating wildfires brought on by winds from hurricane Dora on August 8, 2023, resulted in one of the worst natural disasters in the State's history.  The wildfires caused loss of life and the displacement of thousands on the island of Maui.  The disaster also destroyed nearly all of Lahaina.

     The legislature further finds that to support response and recovery efforts and address immediate 2023 wildfire funding needs, the governor, through several emergency proclamations relating to wildfires and other executive powers, has redirected appropriations from selected general fund operating appropriations originally intended for specific purposes and capital improvement projects, to the department of budget and finance.  The department of budget and finance subsequently transferred funds to the major disaster fund.  With the veto of Senate Bill No. 3068, C.D. 2 in 2024, and in light of the provisions of Senate Bill No. 582, C.D. 1, provisions regarding transparency and accountability for the use of appropriations redirected no longer exist in statute.

     The legislature believes that full transparency and accountability requires a full accounting of all appropriations transferred and deposited into the major disaster fund, and all reimbursements of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds received by the major disaster fund.  In addition, assessing the impacts to departments of the transfers made from various appropriations is vital to ensuring that programs from which funding was transferred remain effective.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish timely notice and reporting requirements to the legislature regarding the transfer of appropriations to the major disaster fund.

     SECTION 2.  Section 127A-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  No later than [sixty] twenty-one days after any allotment or transfer by the governor or the expenditure of any fund moneys, the administrator shall report to the legislature on the purpose of the allotment, transfer, or expenditure.  The report shall:

     (1)  Describe the allotment, subsequent use of the transferred funds, or the expenditure; and

     (2)  Include an accounting for Federal Emergency Management Agency eligible and ineligible expenses that specify:

          (A)  The date of allotment, transfer, or expenditure;

          (B)  The amount of allotment, transfer, or expenditure;

          (C)  The program identification number from which funds were transferred or expended;

          (D)  The program identification number to which funds were transferred;

          (E)  The impact on the program identification number from which funds are transferred or expended; and

          (F)  A detailed explanation of:

              (i)  The uses of the resources transferred or expended; and

             (ii)  The public purposes served by the transfer of the resources."

     SECTION 3.  (a)  No later than            the department of budget and finance shall submit to the legislature a detailed report containing the information specified in section 2 of this Act for each appropriation, transfer, reimbursement, subsequent use of funds, and interest earned on federal reimbursement moneys from August 8, 2023, through           .

     (b)  No later than thirty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2026 and 2027, the governor shall submit to the legislature a summary report containing the information specified in section 2 of this Act for each use of this authority for the previous twelve-month period from December 1, to November 30 of each year.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2027.

Report Title:

Governor; Major Disaster Fund; Notice Requirement; Reporting Requirement

Description:

Establishes timely notice and reporting requirements to the Legislature by the Governor regarding the transfer of appropriations to the Major Disaster Fund.  Effective 6/30/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to the Major Disaster Fund.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the devastating wildfires brought on by winds from hurricane Dora on August 8, 2023, resulted in one of the worst natural disasters in the State's history.  The wildfires caused loss of life and the displacement of thousands on the island of Maui.  The disaster also destroyed nearly all of Lahaina.

     The legislature further finds that to support response and recovery efforts and address immediate 2023 wildfire funding needs, the governor, through several emergency proclamations relating to wildfires and other executive powers, has redirected appropriations from selected general fund operating appropriations originally intended for specific purposes and capital improvement projects, to the department of budget and finance.  The department of budget and finance subsequently transferred funds to the major disaster fund.  With the veto of Senate Bill No. 3068, C.D. 2 in 2024, and the sunset of Senate Bill No. 582, C.D. 1 at the end of fiscal year 2023–2024, provisions regarding transparency and accountability for the use of appropriations redirected no longer exist in statute.

     The legislature believes that full transparency and accountability requires a full accounting of all appropriations transferred and deposited into the major disaster fund, and all reimbursements of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds received by the major disaster fund.  In addition, assessing the impacts to departments of the transfers made from various appropriations is vital to ensuring that programs from which funding was transferred remain effective.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish timely notice and reporting requirements to the legislature regarding the transfer of appropriations to the major disaster fund.

     SECTION 2.  Section 127A-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§127A-16  Major disaster fund.  (a)  The administrator shall submit requests to the legislature to appropriate from the general revenues of the State sufficient moneys as may be necessary for expenditure by or under the direction of the governor for immediate relief in response to an emergency or disaster in any part of the State; provided that:

     (1)  The governor has issued a proclamation of a state of emergency;

     (2)  The governor shall not expend in excess of $10,000,000 for immediate relief as a result of any single emergency or disaster; and

     (3)  In addition to the funds in paragraph (2), an additional $5,000,000 may be made available solely for the purpose of matching federal disaster relief funds when these funds become available to the State following a presidential disaster declaration.

     In expending the moneys, the governor may allot any portion thereof to any agency, office, or employee of the State or a county for the most efficient relief for the population.  Notwithstanding this subsection, the only exception to paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) is that the administrator may use up to $250,000 per year to support the emergency management reserve corps.

     (b)  [No later than sixty days after any allotment by the governor or the expenditure of any fund moneys, the administrator shall report to the legislature on the purpose of the allotment or expenditure.] Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the governor shall:

     (1)  Provide notice to the legislature no later than fourteen days prior to the date of any transfer of appropriations to the major disaster fund;

     (2)  Describe the subsequent use of the transferred funds; and

     (3)  Submit a report to the legislature within five days of each use of this authority, including, for Federal Emergency Management Agency eligible and ineligible expenses, respectively:

          (A)  The date of transfer;

          (B)  The amount of the transfer;

          (C)  The program identification number from which funds were transferred;

          (D)  The program identification number to which funds were transferred;

          (E)  The impact on the program identification number from which funds are transferred; and

          (F)  A detailed explanation of:

               (i)  The uses of the resources transferred; and

              (ii)  The public purposes served by the transfer of the resources.

     [(c)] (d)  Except as provided in subsections [(d)] (e) and [(e),] (f), federal reimbursement moneys for disaster relief shall be deemed to be trust moneys and shall be deposited into a trust account with and under the control of the Hawaii emergency management agency.  Upon receipt by the Hawaii emergency management agency, these moneys shall be reimbursed to the originating fund of the expending agency; provided that if the original appropriation has lapsed, the funds shall be returned to the general fund.

     [(d)] (e)  Federal reimbursement moneys for disaster relief for the Maui wildfires disaster that began on August 8, 2023, shall be deemed to be trust moneys and shall be deposited into a trust account with and under the control of the Hawaii emergency management agency.  These moneys and any interest earned thereon shall be used for the recovery efforts from the Maui wildfires disaster that began on August 8, 2023, and shall not lapse to the general fund.

     [(e)] (f)  In cases in which the department of education expends the funds appropriated to the department for purposes deemed to be reimbursable by federal reimbursement moneys for disaster relief, the federal reimbursement moneys shall not lapse to the general fund and shall be credited directly to the department of education without regard to whether the original appropriation has lapsed.  The funds shall carry over in accordance with section 37-41.5(c).

     [(f)] (g)  Any unspent funding under $2,500,000 shall be rolled over to the next fiscal year to support current and future emergencies and disasters.

     [(g)] (h)  Each state department and agency shall submit to the administrator, no later than August 1 of each year, a report of all funds expended, if any, for the prior fiscal year by the state department and agency for disaster response.  The report shall include:

     (1)  The source of funds, including the name and account number of the funding source;

     (2)  The amount and purpose of each expenditure; and

     (3)  Whether any programs, activities, or contracts were reduced as a result of disaster response spending by the state department and agency.

     [(h)] (i)  The administrator shall submit an annual report to the legislature no later than September 1 of each year on:

     (1)  The amount of federal reimbursement moneys for disaster response that the State could have applied for during the prior fiscal year.  The report shall indicate the amount of federal reimbursement moneys for disaster response broken down by department and agency;

     (2)  The amount of federal reimbursement moneys for disaster response that the State applied for and the amount received during the prior fiscal year.  The report shall indicate the amount of federal reimbursement moneys for disaster response broken down by department and agency;

     (3)  The justification for any difference in the amount of federal reimbursement moneys for disaster response that the State was eligible for and the amount the State applied for;

     (4)  The average amount of time between the submittal of an application for a Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement and receipt of the funds;

     (5)  The number of disaster accounts opened for the prior fiscal year; and

     (6)  The information relating to the expenditure of funds that is reported by each state department and agency pursuant to subsection [(g).] (h)."

     SECTION 4.  (a)  No later than          the department of budget and finance shall submit to the legislature a detailed report containing the information specified in section 2 of this Act for each appropriation, transfer, reimbursement, and subsequent use of funds from August 8, 2023, through          .

     (b)  No later than thirty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2026 and 2027, the governor shall submit to the legislature a summary report containing the information specified in section 2 of this Act for each use of this authority for the previous twelve-month period from December 1, to November 30 of each year.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval and shall be repealed on June 30, 2027.

Report Title:

Governor; Major Disaster Fund; Notice Requirement; Reporting Requirement

Description:

Establishes timely notice and reporting requirements to the Legislature by the Governor regarding the transfer of appropriations to the major disaster fund.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 179

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2025

RE:    H.B. No. 1296

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1296, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MAJOR DISASTER FUND,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to establish timely notice and reporting requirements to the Legislature regarding the allotment, transfer, or expenditure of monies in the Major Disaster Fund.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Governor and Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to submit, no later than October 1, 2025, to the Legislature a summary report containing certain information for the previous fiscal year;

     (2)  Deleting language requiring a report from the Department of Budget and Finance; and

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2025, and repealing it on July 1, 2026.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1296, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1296, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1774

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1296

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1296, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MAJOR DISASTER FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require timely notice and reports to the Legislature when appropriations are allotted or transferred to, or expended from, the major disaster fund.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Office of the Governor and Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that the notice and reporting requirements established by this measure will provide greater accountability, oversight, and transparency for uses of the Major Disaster Fund.

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Budget and Finance requests that the measure's reporting requirement be assigned to the Department of Defense, rather than to the Department of Budget and Finance.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1296, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1122

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1296

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1296, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MAJOR DISASTER FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish timely notice and reporting requirements to the Legislature by the Governor regarding the transfer of appropriations to the Major Disaster Fund.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Governor and Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that the 2023 Maui wildfires caused devastating loss of life and damage to infrastructure in the State.  This emergency prompted the Governor to redirect money from selected general fund operating appropriations originally intended for specific purposes and capital improvement projects to the Department of Budget and Finance, which the Department then transferred into the Major Disaster Fund to address the need for support in the wake of the wildfires.

     Your Committee further finds that transparency and accountability are particularly necessary for circumstances in which the state government utilizes funds originally intended for a set purpose to instead address natural disasters and other emergencies.  This measure will address the need for this information to be made available to the public in a clear and accessible manner by requiring reports to be submitted to the Legislature in a timely manner regarding the transfer of appropriations to the Major Disaster Fund.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the time period for the reporting requirement on the purpose of the allotment, transfer, or expenditure to the Legislature from twenty-one days to thirty days after any allotment or transfer; and

     (2)  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 Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1296, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1296, 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 Public Safety and Military Affairs,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  944

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 1296

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1296, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MAJOR DISASTER FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish timely notice and reporting requirements to the Legislature by the Governor regarding the allotment, transfer, or expenditure of monies in the Major Disaster Fund.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Governor and Department of Budget and Finance.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1296, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  770

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 1296

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 1296 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MAJOR DISASTER FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish timely notice and reporting requirements to the Legislature by the Governor regarding the transfer of appropriations to the Major Disaster Fund.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Governor and Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that full transparency and accountability require a complete accounting of all appropriations transferred and deposited into the Major Disaster Fund, as well as all reimbursements of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds received by the Fund.  Your Committee further finds that assessing the effects to departments of the transfers made from various appropriations is vital to ensuring that programs from which funding was transferred remain effective.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Decreasing to 21 days the time by which the Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency must report to the Legislature after any allotment or transfer by the Governor or the expenditure of any Major Disaster Fund monies;

     (2)  Requiring the reporting of transfers of monies to or from the Major Disaster Fund;

     (3)  Further clarifying the types of information to be included in the report to the Legislature regarding the Major Disaster Fund;

     (4)  Requiring the Department of Budget and Finance to report to the Legislature concerning interest earned on federal reimbursement monies;

     (5)  Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1296, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1296, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,