Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.B. No. 2524 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that business or development-related permit, license, or approval applications are approved in a fair and sound manner by prohibiting automatic approvals when there is a lack of quorum, tie voting results, or any other vote with less than the majority present.

The County of Hawaii, the Planning Department of the County of Hawaii, and Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, testified in support of this bill. The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii opposed this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources offered comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2524 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.