Making Appropriations For Claims Against The State, Its Officers, Or Its Employees.
Summary
SB1309 is a claims-appropriations bill that authorizes state funding to pay a series of specific judgments, settlements, and other liabilities involving the State of Hawaii, its officers, or its employees. The bill covers claims paid from three funding sources: general revenues through the Department of the Attorney General, the state highway fund through the Department of Transportation’s Highways Division, and Judiciary funds. It lists named claimants and case captions, including miscellaneous claims, tort claims, and civil settlements, and directs that the appropriated sums be used to satisfy those obligations for fiscal year 2024-2025.
The bill also sets administrative conditions on payment. It requires attorney general approval before claims are paid, limits interest on judgments to the period specified in state law, and provides that any unspent or unencumbered balances lapse on June 30, 2026. The measure takes effect upon approval and includes a severability clause. In total, the bill appropriates $4,886,234.22 across the listed claims.
Impact
SB1309 would amend state spending authority by appropriating money from the general fund, state highway fund, and Judiciary funds to resolve identified claims against the State and related parties. It does not create a new regulatory program, but it does authorize payment of existing liabilities and directs the responsible agencies to disburse funds for the named settlements and judgments. The bill affects the Attorney General’s office, the Department of Transportation, and the Judiciary, as well as the individual claimants and litigants named in the measure.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill was received favorably in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it passed 3-0 with amendments. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate broader public or legislative concerns. Overall, the measure appears to be a routine appropriations bill for claims resolution rather than a controversial policy proposal.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the size and source of the payments, especially the larger settlements involving the Department of Education and the Department of Transportation. Claims bills can draw scrutiny because they use public funds to resolve litigation, and some members may question the underlying facts, the settlement amounts, or whether certain claims should be paid from general revenues versus special funds. However, the unanimous committee vote indicates no recorded opposition at that stage.