STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2657

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2441

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2441 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to exempt state highways projects from county subdivision approvals regarding highway projects that involve acquisitions.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Transportation; The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; BIA-Hawaii; and HSI Mechanical, Inc.  The City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting and Na Leo Pohai, The Outdoor Circle submitted testimony in opposition.

     Your Committees find that the current county approval process duplicates many of the practices already required in long range planning, environmental studies, the public involvement process, and legislative approval of each project.  This measure would eliminate a lengthy and unnecessary review process and help to reduce the risk of lapsing state and federal funds.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2441 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair