STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1261

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 842

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 842, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Hawaii State Planning Act Review Commission to review and make recommendations to the Legislature to update the Hawaii State Planning Act;

(2) Remove a reference to achieving the viability of Hawaii's sugar and pineapple industries from the Hawaii State Planning Act's agricultural objectives; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning.

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. Within the last few years, 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. Accordingly, your Committee finds that it is necessary to establish the Hawaii State Planning Act Review Commission to update the Hawaii State Planning Act by amending and refocusing the goals, objectives, and policies of the State to reflect current cultural, economic, and societal goals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the administrative attachment of the Hawaii State Planning Act Review Commission from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Office of Planning;

(2) Inserting an appropriation amount of $250,000 to the Office of Planning; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 842, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 842, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair