STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3354

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2872

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2872, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources to auction public leased lands within the state park or forest reserve for recreation-residence use.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from an individual.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources opposed the measure.

     Your Committee finds that currently, the Board of Land and Natural Resources leases public lands for recreation-residence use by direct negotiation.  This measure expands the Board's leasing capability by allowing the Board to lease public lands for recreation-residence use by public auction.  The measure also allows the Board to offer current lessees or permittees an opportunity to match a winning bid at auction and allows the Board to require bidders to be full-time residents.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by substituting the reference to "domestic partners" with "reciprocal beneficiaries" since the State does not recognize domestic partnerships.

     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 H.B. No. 2872, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2872, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair