Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 6, 1 June 1990 — Major bills affect OHA [ARTICLE]

Major bills affect OHA

A number of major bills affecting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs passed in this year's legislative session. An amendment to Chapter 10 HRS, requires OHA to prepare and submit budgets, a six-year program and a financial plan. Further OHA must submit a yearly accounting of money spent and an annual report, both reflecting the previous fiscal year. The same bill requires OHA to prepare a detailed budget proposal and make copies of it available before public meetings or hearings on the budget are held. This is to make sure OHA beneficiaries have a ehanee to review and comment on specific proposals before the OHA trustees adopt the budget and it is submitted to the legislature. Additionally, OHA must submit progress reports to the legislature by Dec. 31 this year and next, on improvements in the management of OHA and the effectiveness of OHA's current programs. An accounting of expenditures must also be provided to the legislature and the public. The new budget procedures will begin July 1, 1992 whieh allows OHA two years to incorporate the

new budget procedures into its management and operation. Another bill that passed this legislative session amends Section 10-12 HRS, and eliminates the requirement that the board of trustees approve all officers and employees hired by the OHA administrator. It is effective on July 1. The attorney general reviewed the amendments and said they are consistent with the state constitution and laws. A bill passed whieh appropriates funds for salary increases for the OHA administrator, deputy administrator and officers and employees who are excluded from collective bargaining. A bill whieh provides $1 million a year for 10 years to create the Hawaii Opportunity Frogram in Education (HOPE) special fund to award scholarships to financially needy students was enacted. HOPE will give priority to students from ethnic groups whieh are underrepresented at the University of Hawai'i, namely Hawaiians, Filipinos, Samoans and certain other ethnic groups in the state whieh rank the lowest in socio-economic (occupational status and ineome) and education test scores. The $1 million will eome out of tuition collected by the University.