STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1643-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 632

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 632, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COURTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote and protect Hawaii's natural environment through consistent and uniform application of environmental laws by establishing an environmental court that has exclusive, original jurisdiction over proceedings arising from specified environmental matters.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Get the Drift and Bag It!; Kipahulu Ohana, Inc.; Keep the Hawaiian Islands Beautiful; and a few individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; Building Industry Association of Hawaii; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; General Contractors Association of Hawaii; and an individual provided testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Judiciary, Office of Planning, and The Outdoor Circle provided comments.

     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. 632, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair