STAND. COM. REP. NO. 118-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2647

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2647 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VACANT LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a pilot project to identify vacant Department of Transportation parcels of land within the 96817 zip code area, and to propose possible uses for those parcels to deter crime and benefit the community, such as community gardens, parks, lending libraries, and food pantries. This measure also requires the Department to submit a report to the Legislature concerning the pilot project.

A few concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Transportation testified in opposition to this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the pilot project to explore the possibility of converting vacant lands statewide, rather than only for a certain zip code;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2647, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2647, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

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

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair