STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1504

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 2

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Exempt land set aside by the Governor to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and lands leased to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation by other state departments or agencies from classification as public lands subject to Department of Land and Natural Resources management;

(2) Require the land to be subject to legislative approval before the sale or gift of those lands;

(3) Require the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to return lands leased by any department or agency that are no longer needed for housing, finance, or development; and

(4) Require the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to submit certain documentation to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs regarding government or crown lands set aside or leased to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation before developing or financing affordable housing development on those lands.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Heiau O Mammalohoa Helu Elua; Ka Lāhui Hawai‘i Kōmike Kalai‘āina; Na Kupuna Moku O Keawe; Kūpuna for the Mo‘opuna; Kanaeokana Kula Hawai‘i Network; Hope Services Hawai‘i; Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation; Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Community Alliance Partners; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that setting aside land for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation will help in streamlining the development of affordable housing on state lands by reducing the number of approvals required by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair