STAND. COM. REP. NO. 906

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 191

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 191, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATION FOR ENSURING A FAIR AND JUST PAYMENT AMOUNT FOR THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS' PRO RATA SHARE OF THE PUBLIC LAND TRUST,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Budget and Finance to report annually on the disposition of receipts from lands within the public land trust.

This measure also establishes a full-time equivalent position of public land trust reporting and accountability officer within the Department of Budget and Finance to ensure compliance with the reporting and accounting of the disposition of public land trust receipts.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Ke One O Kakuhihewa, Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and four individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the University of Hawaii and Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that this measure would help mitigate incomplete and inaccurate reporting by state agencies of public land trust receipts, which hinders efforts to determine the actual amount of receipts generated by lands within the public land trust and thus the mandated pro rata share of receipts for the betterment of conditions of Native Hawaiians.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 191, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair