STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2126

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2915
                                        S.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 S.B. No. 2915 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SPECIAL LAND AND
     DEVELOPMENT FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to direct the moneys
generated by the disposition of mineral and water rights into the
Department of Land and Natural Resources' Special Land and
Development Fund and to authorize the Commission on Water
Resource Management to use the moneys contained in that fund for
its programs.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the
Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Honolulu Board
of Water Supply.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs opposed the
passage of the bill.

     Your Committee finds that since 1994, the Commission on
Water Resource Management's budget has been reduced by eighteen
percent.  While the Special Land and Development Fund accounts
for roughly six percent of the Commission's funding, the
remaining ninety-three percent of its budget is derived from
state general funds.  As such, during these fiscally trying
times, the Commission's budget has constantly been a target for
further cutbacks.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2126
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     Your Committee believes that a consistent source of funding
through the redirection of a moneys generated by the disposition
of mineral and water rights into the Special Land and Development
Fund would allow the Commission to not only base more its budget
needs on that fund, but also enable it to fully carry out its
responsibilities and to implement monitoring, management,
enforcement, and resource protection programs/activities that are
necessary to sustain the State's limited water resources.

     Your Committee has amended the bill by making technical,
nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and to
conform the measure to recommended drafting style.

     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 is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 2915, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B.
No. 2915, S.D. 1, and 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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