Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2505, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Office of Environmental Quality Control, when a conflict of interest may exist because the proposing agency and the agency making the determination are one and the same, to review the agency's determination, consult the agency, and make a final determination.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Office of Environmental Quality Control. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Design and Construction and Department of Planning and Permitting, and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii testified in opposition.

Your Committee has heard the county concerns that this measure could potentially delay a project, but finds that there are sufficient safeguards to ensure that is not the case.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2505, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.