Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1473, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a smart growth program for the State.

Specifically, this bill establishes a Special Advisor, who shall be the Director of Planning, and a Smart Growth Advisory Council to ensure state investments and action support smart growth objectives. The Smart Growth Advisory Council shall consist of between fifteen and twenty-one members, and include at least one representative from each island. The Council shall assist the Special Advisor, advise on the development and implementation of state strategies for smart growth, serve as a conduit between the Governor, Legislature, and public on smart growth issues, and promote public participation. The Special Advisor shall work with state agencies, the Council, county and federal agencies, the private sector, community organizations, and the public to establish smart growth objectives and strategies for the State.

Your Committee finds that state governments throughout the nation are turning to smart growth to reduce the costs of growth and preserve the economic productivity and character of established communities and rural areas. It is important to Hawaii, an island state whose economy is tied to tourism, to manage growth in a way that maximizes our resources and minimizes the blight often associated with unfettered growth. The smart growth concept can help us to manage our growth optimally.

Your Committee has amended the bill by making technical, nonsubstantive changes, and by changing the appropriation to $1 to promote further discussion.

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. 1473, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1473, S.D. 2.