STAND. COM. REP. NO. 510

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 81

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 81 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STARLIGHT RESERVE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to extend the termination date of the temporary advisory committee relating to the statewide starlight reserve strategy from June 30, 2011, to June 30, 2013.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Transportation; University of Hawai‘i System; the Chair of the Hawaii Starlight Reserve Committee; and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the Starlight Reserve Committee was originally scheduled to convene in July of 2009, but due to revenue shortfalls, the implementation of new state boards, commissions, and committees was deferred until the summer of the following year.  Consequently, there has not been adequate time for the Starlight Reserve Committee to analyze the current status of county, state, and federal lighting policies and ordinances, or to develop an effective and sustainable starlight reserve strategy based upon this analysis.

     Your Committee is in support of the proposed two-year extension, and taking a measured approach for review and analysis, as recommended by the Starlight Reserve Committee.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 81 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development and Technology,

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair