STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3555

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  H.C.R. No. 101
                                        H.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs, to
which was referred H.C.R. No. 101, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A STUDY TO ASCERTAIN
     THE FEASIBILITY OF AMENDING THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION
     ACT TO ALLOW FOR DIRECT ELECTION OF MEMBERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request a study to
ascertain the feasibility of amending the Hawaiian Homes
Commission Act to allow for direct election of members.

     The measure also requests that the study include
determinations on:

     1)   Who should be allowed to run;

     2)   Who should be permitted to vote;

     3)   How the seats should be apportioned; and

     4)   How such an election should be financed.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  The Legislative Reference
Bureau submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that the members of the Hawaiian Homes
Commission are at present not elected but nominated and appointed

 
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by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate in
accordance with the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, Section 202
and section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     Your Committee believes that establishing a system of
governance for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands that allows
for direct election of the members of the Hawaiian Homes
Commission by their beneficiaries while preserving the system of
regional representation embodied in Section 202(a) of the
Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, would provide
a more direct link to beneficiary representation than the
existing system currently provides.

     Toward this end, requesting that the Legislative Reference
Bureau undertake a study to determine the legal issues involved
in amending the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act to allow for direct
election of the members of the Hawaiian Homes Commission by their
beneficiaries is appropriate.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached
to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and
purpose of H.C.R. No. 101, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Water, Land, and
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair

 
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