Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1877 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) has sole jurisdiction over the Office of Planning and require the Office of Planning's director be nominated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Hawaii's Thousand Friends, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, Sierra Club, and two individuals. Testimony in opposition was submitted by DBEDT, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Office of Planning. Comments were also submitted by the University of Hawaii Environmental Center and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the power to direct the Office of Planning to report to a principal department other than DBEDT rests solely with the Legislature. Thus, this measure:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1877 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.