STAND. COM. REP. NO. 5

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 259

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 259 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to create a digital database of applicant, beneficiary, and lessee records to increase departmental efficiency and reduce abuse of lease awards by lessees.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Napualei o Hina, Kalamaula Homesteaders Association, Makakuoha Cooperative, and several individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, and Ke One O Kakuhihewa – Oahu Council.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the digital database shall be completed and available for use no later than July 1, 2020;

(2) Specifying that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands shall expend funds from its current operating budget, in addition to funds appropriated by this measure, to create the digital database;

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

(4) 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 Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 259, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 259, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair