STAND. COM. REP. NO.  976

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 1677

      S.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1677, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LANDS CONTROLLED BY THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require the adoption of a concurrent resolution by two-thirds majority vote of each house of the Legislature when the state administration sells, transfers, or exchanges ceded and other public lands.

     The Hawaii Government Employees Association Na Koa Ikaika o Ka Lahui Hawaii, Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic club, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  A concerned individual opposed this bill.  The Department of the Attorney General, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and several concerned individuals commented on this measure.

     Several testifiers preferred a full moratorium on the sale or exchange of public lands to the approval process in this bill.  However, your Committee finds that this bill provides a viable and reasonable option to a moratorium that can be moved forward through the legislative process and serve as a vehicle for continued discussion of the issues.  Your Committee also finds that any procedure for consideration of the sale or exchange of ceded lands enacted by the Legislature, should include public hearings throughout the islands, on the proposed sale or exchange.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1677, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair