STAND. COM. REP. NO.  845

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 331

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 331, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide existing lessees on state land the opportunity to, among other things, recoup their investment in their leasehold estates and facilitate future planning for their present enterprises by authorizing the Board of Land and Natural Resources to extend the fixed lease rent period of state leases being used for specified purposes; provided that the aggregate of the initial and extension terms do not exceed 65 years.

     Numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Hawaii Aquaculture Aquaponics Association provided comments. 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Increasing to 65 years the statutory limitation that restricted a lease's initial term and extension thereof to no more than a total of 55 years; and

     (2)  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. 331, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 331, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair