STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1776-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 3102

      S.D. 2

      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 S.B. No. 3102, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LAND CONSERVATION FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide for greater protection of land having value as a resource to the State through the Land Conservation Fund (Fund) by allowing:

(1)  Public and private moneys to be deposited into the Fund and used for the acquisition of land having value as a resource to the State; and

(2)  Moneys from the Fund to be used for the costs of operating, maintaining, and managing lands acquired by way of the Fund.

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Deleting the provision allowing moneys from the Fund to be used for the costs of operating, maintaining, and managing lands acquired by way of the Fund;

(2)  Providing that the Board of Land and Natural Resources may, upon consultation with the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, require organizations receiving moneys from the Fund to provide and record a conservation easement, agricultural easement, or deed restriction or covenant to ensure the long-term protection of land having value as a resource to the State; and

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

     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 S.B. No. 3102, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3102, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair