STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1352

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1609

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1609, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Land and Natural Resources to provide grants to tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that have experience and expertise in supporting and advancing Native Hawaiian communities; and

(2) Amend Act 195, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to include additional grant requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Mayor of the County of Maui, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Kapolei Chamber of Commerce, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of the Attorney General, and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that this measure supports Native Hawaiian communities and culture by tailoring assistance programs to benefit these communities, while capitalizing on organizations with experience providing assistance and support to Native Hawaiian communities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting the contents of its companion measure, H.B. No. 1508, H.D. 1, which previously passed the House, and which appropriates funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Land and Natural Resources to improve Native Hawaiian communities and culture through various assistance services. Your Committee has further amended this measure by 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1609, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1609, 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair