HB 574 Summary

• Repeals provisions in Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 37-41.5(c) that authorized the Department of Education to retain federal disaster relief reimbursements beyond the standard 5% carryover limit.

• Establishes the major disaster fund as a special fund consisting of legislative appropriations, federal reimbursement moneys for disaster relief, and investment interest, with all funds lapsing to the general fund if not expended within 5 years.

• Reduces the reporting timeframe for the administrator to report on disaster fund allotments or expenditures from 60 days to 30 days after any action.

• Repeals language that allowed unspent disaster funding under $2,500,000 to automatically roll over to the next fiscal year.

• Requires the administrator to submit annual reports to the legislature by September 1 detailing federal disaster relief funds eligible for, applied for, received, and any gaps in applications, broken down by department and county.