STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1172-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2644

      S.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 Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2644, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to strengthen historic preservation laws by requiring that a State Historic Preservation Officer appointed by the Governor meet the standards established by the United States Secretary of the Interior and have professional experience related to historic preservation in Hawaii.  In addition, this bill requires the Governor to immediately advise the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the appointed individual and the appointee's qualifications.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Oahu Island Burial Council, Society for Hawaiian Archaeology, Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawaii Nei, Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources opposed this measure. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2644, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair