STAND. COM. REP. NO.  562

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 620

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 620 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE KAHO‘OLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support the management and restoration of the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve by providing funding to the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission (Commission), including funds for staff positions within the Commission.

The Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission, a Councilmember from the County of Maui, Ocean Tourism Coalition, Conservation Council for Hawaii, and many individuals supported this measure.  Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies and one individual opposed this measure.  One individual provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that the first general fund appropriation for the Commission shall be used for the purposes of promoting water sustainability and photovoltaic powered desalinization on the island of Kaho‘olawe;

     (2)  Inserting an unspecified appropriation amount;

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (4)  Making nonsubstantive, technical amendments for clarity and consistency.

     Should the Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure further, your Committee on Water & Land respectfully requests that it consider appropriating:

     (1)  $600,000 for the Commission to promote water sustainability and photovoltaic powered desalinization on the island of Kaho‘olawe; and

     (2)  $1,000,000 for the Commission to hire additional staffing and operational expenses to continue the State's management responsibilities with regard to the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 620, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 620, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair