STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2988

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2523

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2523 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the State Land Use Commission to consider the county general plan and all community development plans in its decision making on district boundary amendments.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business Development and Tourism, the Hawaii Association of Realtors, and one individual.  The University of Hawaii Environmental Center provided support with reservations.

     Your Committee finds this measure will help to build better communities in our State by incorporating sound planning practices which will ensure that issues specific to each county are not overlooked when reviewing district boundary amendments.

     Your Committee understands that the State Land Use Commission has adopted section 15-15-77(b)(4), Hawaii Administrative Rules, which requires the Land Use Commission to consider the general plan of the county when establishing the boundaries of the districts.  Furthermore, the State Office of Planning also incorporates the county general plan and the community development plans in their review of petitions for district boundary changes.  Therefore, this measure would serve to make the language in section 205-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, consistent with the current operating practices of the State Land Use Commission and the State Office of Planning.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2523, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Water and Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair