STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1330

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 110

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Housing, to which was referred S.R. No. 110 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A STREAM MAINTENANCE AND FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to convene a task force to develop a stream maintenance and flood hazard mitigation plan.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee finds that the State Hazard Mitigation Forum, under the state Department of Defense, already performs many of the functions that this measure requests the task force to undertake.  However, the State Hazard Mitigation Forum is not equipped to develop environmental, engineering, and functional solutions to address short- and long-term flooding issues. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adopting amendments recommended by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which delete all references to convening a task force to address flooding issues;

     (2)  Adding language describing the composition and responsibilities of the existing State Hazard Mitigation Forum;

     (3)  Requesting that the State Hazard Mitigation Forum study measures to mitigate risks associated with flood hazards and explore funding options to address the State's flood concerns;

     (4)  Amending its title accordingly; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 110, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 110, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Housing,

____________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair