Bill Text: HI SB2427 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Public Utilities Commission; Best Practices; Appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-03-08 - (H) Referred to CPC, FIN, referral sheet 41 [SB2427 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2012-SB2427-Amended.html
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2103
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2427
S.D. 1
Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui
President of the Senate
Twenty-Sixth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2012
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2427 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Public Utilities Commission to implement best practices in the areas of regulatory frameworks, rules and procedures, and information technology and public access and to appropriate funds to carry out these purposes.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Public Utilities Commission. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.
Your Committee finds that the Public Utilities Commission has been working on updating and implementing internal processes and developing innovative regulatory frameworks. The Public Utilities Commission has undertaken an internal initiative to update all of the Commission's administrative rules, and is working on enhancing its Document Management System to increase user friendliness and allow for electronic filing and payment.
Your Committee also finds that implementation of best practices will increase transparency and efficiency at the Public Utilities Commission and will ensure that the Commission is in the best position to make informed decisions about the State's future infrastructure.
Concerns were expressed regarding whether the appropriation associated with this measure should come from the general fund. In testimony before your Committee, it was noted that the public utilities commission special fund has generated an average of $18,000,000 each year over the last five fiscal years, and has lapsed to the general fund approximately $10,000,000 each year during that same period. Your Committee has concluded that it is more appropriate that the funding for this measure come from the public utilities commission special fund.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Specifying that funding for this measure will come from the public utilities commission special fund, rather than the general fund; and
(2) Increasing the appropriation amount to $100,000 to better assist the Public Utilities Commission with implementing best practices.
Your Committee finds that this measure will require an increase in the public utilities commission special fund ceiling and will result in a subsequent loss of $100,000 from the general fund. Your Committee also believes that the appropriation contained in this measure is an important expenditure and will have minimal impact on the general fund.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2427, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2427, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,
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____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair |
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