STAND. COM. REP. NO. 643

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 568
                                        S.D. 2




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B.
No. 568, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of the bill is to clarify and strengthen the
State's historic preservation law as it relates to Hawaiian
remains and Hawaiian sites.

     Specifically, the bill:

     (1)  Defines the term "burial specialist", who is a person
          who will assist in determining whether remains are
          Hawaiian and if so, will assist in their removal;

     (2)  Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources
          to establish a burial sites program; and

     (3)  Makes it unlawful for any person to disturb a heiau.

     Your Committee finds that these provisions will help ensure
respectful and appropriate treatment of Hawaiian remains and
special places.  Your Committee notes that the proposed bill
makes it a violation to disturb a heiau, and realizes that not
all heiau are appropriately marked.  Your Committee therefore
urges the Department of Land and Natural Resources to take

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 643
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appropriate steps to post appropriate signage at all known heiau
to assist in implementing the law.

     Your Committee has amended the bill by:

     (1)  Specifying that the burial specialist shall have
          experience over a three-year period, and need not have
          three years continuous experience with discovery of
          human remains;

     (2)  Reinstating the provision requiring notification of the
          appropriate medical examiner or coroner; and

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
568, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third
Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 568, S.D. 2.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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