STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1433-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.C.R. No. 257

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 257 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A MANAGEMENT AND FISCAL AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to improve accountability of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) by requesting the Auditor to conduct a financial and management audit of DLNR to include:

(1) A review of the mission and operation of all of DLNR's divisions and agencies;

(2) A review of its personnel recruitment, hiring, management, employment, and salary policies;

(3) An examination and inspection of all sources and amounts of funding received;

(4) An examination and inspection of all of its expenditures; and

(5) Any and all other matters that the Auditor would normally review in a management and fiscal audit.

This audit will help DLNR identify challenges to fulfilling its mandate to protect and maintain the natural resources of the State.

The Hawaii Government Employers Association, Conservation Council for Hawai'i, Hawaii Boaters Political Action Association, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, Ala Wai Marina Community Association, and a concerned individual testified in support of this concurrent resolution. A concerned individual supported this measure with amendments. DLNR opposed this measure. The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 257 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,

		____________________________ EZRA R. KANOHO, Chair