STAND. COM. REP. NO. 464

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 641

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 641 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to add the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission or the Chairperson's designee as an ex officio voting member of the Commission on Water Resource Management.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Office of Hawaiian Affairs Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment Committee; Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and eighteen individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

     Your Committees find that water resources are an integral part of Native Hawaiian culture and practices.  One of the goals in the Water Policy Plan of the Hawaiian Homes Commission is to "aggressively, proactively, consistently and comprehensively advocate for the kuleana of the beneficiaries."

     Your Committees further find that this measure allows for greater advocacy for beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.  However, your Committees also want to caution against "opening the floodgates" to organizations who may want a seat on the Commission on Water Resource Management in the future.  Thus, it is the intent of your Committees to limit additional membership to government entities, such as the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 641 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water and Land,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair