Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1161 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish minimum amounts for which personal and public notice and public auction are required for property abandoned or seized on public lands, and to clarify that the amounts due to the State shall be offset in any sale of property or in any judgment against the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that under current law, the process to dispose of abandoned or seized property is costly and the property often includes items of little value, particularly in relations to the cost of storing the property, publishing a notice, and conducting an auction. In the case of property where an illegal activity took place, the owner must also pay a fine, as well as other costs to retrieve the property.

Your Committee finds that this measure places appropriate parameters on the disposal of abandoned or seized property and will ensure that the process is more cost effective.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1161 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.