STAND. COM. REP. NO.  997-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 839

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 839 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ACCESS TO BEACHES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to continue to ensure the rights of the public to access the shoreline areas of the State for recreational and cultural purposes by appropriating funds for the surveying and mapping of all existing public access ways to shorelines throughout the State.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Windward Ahupua'a Alliance, Kuli‘ou‘ou/Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board #2, Surfrider Foundation Maui Chapter, Beach Access Hawaii, Sierra Club Oahu Group, and numerous individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and a concerned individual testified in opposition to this measure.  KAHEA The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance and a concerned individual submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the appropriation for the surveying and mapping of public access ways to shorelines is for the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 839, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 839, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair