HI SR56

Establishes a Senate Special Committee on Accountability to investigate the Department of Taxation's contract award and amendments to CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc., including Statement of Work 1 (SOW 1) and Statement of Work 2 (SOW 2) contracts for the Integrated Tax Information Management System (ITIMS).

Committee shall review CGI contract award documents and subsequent SOW 1 and SOW 2 contracts to investigate issues raised in Senate Committee on Ways and Means briefings and assess legal ramifications of the Department of Taxation's actions.

Committee granted full investigatory powers including authority to adopt rules, issue subpoenas, hold hearings, administer oaths, subpoena witnesses and documents, and report contempt violations under chapter 21, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Requires the Special Committee on Accountability to submit written findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012.

Background: SOW 1 (2008) established a $25,000,000 contingent fee contract where CGI receives one-third of new delinquent taxes collected; SOW 2 (2009) modified SOW 1 and reduced CGI's obligations but failed to negotiate corresponding price reduction, prompting legislative concern about operational inefficiencies and poor working relationships between Department of Taxation staff and CGI consultants.