STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1557

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 235
                                        H.D. 2
                                        S.D. 2




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B.
No. 235, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled: 

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide for an elected
Hawaiian Homes Commission to oversee the Department of Hawaiian
Home Lands.

     Your Committee finds that this measure is designed to
provide the native Hawaiian community more direct input into
their own future in the Hawaiian home lands program.  By electing
the members of the commission, the beneficiaries of the program
can demand accountability of their elected representatives; can
direct their questions and express their needs to identifiable
individuals; and have a measure of influence on what happens to a
program that was established for their benefit.  This is an idea
that recognizes the importance of self-governance and the value
of Hawaiian ownership in the program.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by changing its
effective date to July 1, 3001, to promote continued discussion
and conference.  This is not an indication of any lack of
commitment to move forward expeditiously on this matter.

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1557
                                   Page 2


     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
235, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it
pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 235,
H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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