STAND. COM. REP. NO.  114

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2178

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2178 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to employ and retain independent legal counsel.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, a member of the Kauai County Council, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Keaukaha Community Association; and several individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General testified in opposition.  The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; 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 Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2178, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2178, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair