Making Appropriations To Provide For The Expenses Of The Legislature, The Auditor, The Legislative Reference Bureau, The Ombudsman, And The Ethics Commission.
Impact
The bill stipulates appropriations specifically aimed at ensuring the functioning of the Senate and House of Representatives, with designated amounts for session expenses, technology infrastructure like legislative information systems, and public broadcasting of legislative proceedings. This detailed budget allocation emphasizes the importance of transparency and public engagement in legislative processes. The anticipated lapse of unspent funds back into the general fund by June 30, 2025, further reflects a responsible framework to manage public funds while still addressing operational needs of various legislative entities.
Summary
House Bill 2520 proposes to make appropriations to cover the operational expenses of essential legislative bodies within the State of Hawaii, including the legislature itself, the auditor, the legislative reference bureau, the ombudsman, and the ethics commission. This act acknowledges that the general fund expenditure ceiling for the fiscal year 2023-2024 has already been exceeded, and the appropriations proposed will further increase this deficit, indicating a growing demand for funding to uphold governmental functions effectively. The total additional appropriation is projected to exceed the ceiling by approximately $28.57 million, highlighting fiscal pressures on state resources.
Contention
While the bill primarily addresses administrative funding, discussions surrounding it reveal an ongoing tension regarding budget management within the state. Critics may express concerns about exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling amidst economic uncertainties, urging for a more balanced approach to state spending. Furthermore, the reliance on increasing appropriations could raise questions about the sustainability of funding legislative functions in future fiscal periods, especially in light of Hawaii's broader economic context and priorities for public expenditure.
Making Appropriations To Provide For The Expenses Of The Legislature, The Auditor, The Legislative Reference Bureau, The Ombudsman, And The Ethics Commission.
Making Appropriations To Provide For The Expenses Of The Legislature, The Auditor, The Legislative Reference Bureau, The Ombudsman, And The Ethics Commission.
Making Appropriations To Provide For The Expenses Of The Legislature, The Auditor, The Legislative Reference Bureau, The Ombudsman, And The Ethics Commission.
AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the ethics commission; to provide for a legislative management study; and to provide for a legislative management report.
Making Appropriations To Provide For The Expenses Of The Legislature, The Auditor, The Legislative Reference Bureau, The Ombudsman, And The Ethics Commission.
Making Appropriations To Provide For The Expenses Of The Legislature, The Auditor, The Legislative Reference Bureau, The Ombudsman, And The Ethics Commission.
Making Appropriations To Provide For The Expenses Of The Legislature, The Auditor, The Legislative Reference Bureau, The Ombudsman, And The Ethics Commission.