STAND. COM. REP. NO. 42-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1655

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1655 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand the types of activities excluded from the definition of "development" as it applies to special management areas to reduce the need for special management area permits for these activities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Planning of the County of Maui, Planning Department of the County of Hawaii, and Department of Public Works of the County of Maui. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committee finds that the existing law governing special management areas does not exempt actions that are typically conducted by government agencies and conservation organizations for public benefit projects, such as constructing a sidewalk, adding a bike lane, or controlling invasive vegetation. This measure would streamline government and private-sector activities that benefit the people of Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Further modifying the types of activities excluded from the definition of "development" as it applies to special management areas;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; 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 Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1655, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1655, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair