STAND. COM. REP. NO. 998

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1924

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1924, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LANDS CONTROLLED BY THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the prior approval of the Legislature for any sale of public lands.

     Specifically, this measure will require the prior legislative approval of the sale of lands controlled by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and other departments, agencies, and entities, including but not limited to the Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Community Development Corporation, and Aloha Tower Development.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the State Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations and a private citizen and comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, and Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs submitted comments.

     This measure requires the prior approval by a two-thirds majority of each house of the Legislature for the sale of any public lands owned or controlled by any state department or agency.  This measure will ensure that the sale of any public lands will be for a public purpose and in the best interest of the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending section 171-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to dispositions of public lands to reference the new section proposed by this measure;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to allow further discussion on this measure; and

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purpose of clarity and consistency.

     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. 1924, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1924, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair