STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2478

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2829

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2829 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE PLANNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide for the review and update of the Hawaii State Planning Act and continue efforts to develop goals and policies to guide the development of the State.  Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Requires and provides funding for the Office of Planning to, among other things, review the Hawaii State Planning Act;

     (2)  Requires the Office of Planning to report to the Legislature its recommendations for updating the Hawaii State Planning Act to appropriately address the needs of the State; and

     (3)  Appropriates funds to review and update the Hawaii State Planning Act.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Agriculture; Office of Planning; and Sierra Club of Hawai‘i.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii State Planning Act was enacted in 1978 to improve the planning process and guide future development of the State by setting forth the Hawaii state plan, which articulates goals and policies to guide the development of the State and establishes an integrated planning and implementation system regarding those goals and policies.  Your Committee further finds that the last review of the Hawaii State Planning Act was initiated in 1983 and completed in 1985 and resulted in several amendments to the Hawaii State Planning Act.  Since then, there have been significant changes in Hawaii's economic, physical, and social conditions; technology; and the global marketplace.  The State also faces new constraints and opportunities as it plans for the future.  Thus, your Committee finds that a comprehensive review of the Hawaii State Planning Act, chapter 226, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is now warranted.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2829 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair