STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1583

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 300

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 300, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR LAND IMPROVEMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit expenditures of public monies for improvements of lands not owned or leased by the State, subject to certain exceptions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that public funds should be used for public purposes and for the public good. Placing certain limitations on the expenditure of those monies would increase oversight of and accountability for taxpayer dollars.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the expending agency to approve a restrictive covenant that acknowledges the State's right to receive compensation for its expenditure if an improvement to land not owned or leased by the State is abandoned or not completed, if the source of funding for the improvement is:

(A) An appropriation of monies to be expended for a natural resource management project or cultural resource management project; or

(B) A state grant, including any grant made pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Requiring the recipient of the appropriation or grant to file and execute the restrictive covenant;

(3) Adding definitions for the terms "cultural resource management" and "natural resource management";

(4) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) 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 S.B. No. 300, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 300, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair