STAND. COM. REP. NO. 97

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 810

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 810 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WAIMANO RIDGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure that the state-owned lands in the Waimano ridge area are used in an effective, appropriate, and "community-friendly" manner that has the approval of the residents of the Waimano ridge community and the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Center on Disability Studies.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that the Waimano ridge task force is in need of financial support in order for it to develop and implement a "community-friendly" master plan for the state-owned Waimano ridge lands.

     Your Committee intends to accomplish the purpose of this measure by providing needed funding through appropriations and general obligation bonds for the Waimano ridge task force to establish a comprehensive Waimano ridge master plan, for a full-time facilities manager position, and for building projects.  This funding will enable the Waimano ridge task force to develop a master plan that facilitates the establishment of a "totally integrated community" where activities on the state-owned Waimano ridge lands will be community-friendly.  It is the further intent of your Committee to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to support building demolition, building improvements, and water system upgrades for the Waimano ridge lands that will allow for the implementation of the master plan.

     Your Committee amended this measure by adopting the Department of Health's recommendation to change the purpose section language to reflect the Legislature's support of good communications and relations between the State and the Waimano ridge community residents.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 810, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 810, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair