UH budget measure
draws governor's veto

Star-Bulletin staff

Gov. Ben Cayetano has vetoed bills that would have given the University of Hawaii more budgetary flexibility and the state public safety director the authority to establish canine units.

The measures were among four Cayetano rejected Monday, but did not announce until yesterday.

The vetoed bills and Cayetano's reasons for not signing them into law:

HB1660, HD2, SD1, CD1: Would have allowed the university to carry over to the next fiscal year general-appropriation funds not used in the previous year.

Veto reason: The fear that if general revenues are lower than expected, the university would be free from budget restrictions. "This would mean that every other state department and program would have to bear a greater burden of adjustments," Cayetano said.

SB223, SD2, HD1, CD1: Would have required the public safety director to establish a canine corps, with some of the dogs assigned to state prisons.

Veto reason: "Since this bill provides no additional funding for the maintenance or expansion of the canine corps, this bill is unnecessary," said Cayetano, who added the public safety director already has the authority to establish canine units.

SB921, HD1, CD1: Would have allowed the state courts to issue penal summons and bench warrants for failure to pay traffic fines.

Veto reason: It imposes a collection procedure that would disrupt an established, well-working collection system, and would also have required funding to implement, Cayetano contended.

SB450, SD1, HD2, CD1: Would have made the managed process committee, which was established last year to deal with privatization issues, a permanent state board with expanded responsibilities, including overseeing the "managed process."

Veto reason: The bill was unnecessary legislation that would have converted what was supposed to be a one-time effort into a continuing program, Cayetano said.

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