Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2811 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the funds deposited into the Bureau of Conveyances’ special fund from its recordation fee from $2 per fee to $7 per fee to allow the Bureau to become self-sufficient and to provide more service to the public.

Your Committee finds that the Bureau of Conveyances, the public repository for land title documents and maps, has seen its personnel dwindle from sixty-five in fiscal year 1994-1995 to fifty-three in the current fiscal year. This decrease in staff has come during a period where the Bureau is handling more complex transactions, including timeshares, lease to fee conversions, and conveyances from individuals to trusts. The Bureau is also making a major effort to have all of its records accessible via the internet, a labor-intensive project that will provide a greater benefit to the public. Additional staff is needed to support the critical work of the Bureau.

Your Committee finds that allowing the Bureau to add needed staff and making the Bureau self-supporting by allowing it to keep more of the funds that it generates is an appropriate goal and one that will be of significant value to state residents.

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. 2811 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.