STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2095
                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2767
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs, to
which was referred S.B. No. 2767 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide for the effective
management and operation of the State's Coastal Zone Management
(CZM) Program.

     Specifically, the bill:

     (1)  Establishes a Coastal Zone Special Fund to retain fees,
          fines, and moneys for the benefit of the CZM Program;

     (2)  Clarifies the lead agency's (Office of Planning)
          responsibilities in maintaining a public advisory board
          and that the function of such a board as purely
          advisory;

     (3)  Clarifies that it is the lead agency's responsibility
          to review federal programs, permits, licenses, and
          development proposals;

     (4)  Clarifies what activities are exempt under the CZM
          program's definition of "development" to ensure
          consistency with county zoning ordinances;

     (5)  Increases the cost threshold for development permits
          from $125,000 to $165,000 to streamline the permitting

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2095
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          process for smaller projects while maintaining a high
          level of environmental oversight;

     (6)  Increases certain penalties so as to provide a real
          deterrent to violations of the CZM law; and

     (7)  Replaces the Marine and Coastal Zone Management
          Advisory Group with a citizen-based body.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the
Office of Planning, the City and County of Honolulu Department of
Planning and Permitting, the County of Hawaii Planning
Department, the Land Use Research Foundation, and the Hawaii
Chapter of the Sierra Club.

     Your Committee believes that the establishment of the
Coastal Zone Special Fund and the amendments made to the State's
CZM law will assist the Office of Planning in the effective
management of the State's coastal zone areas.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached
to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 2767 and recommends that it pass Second
Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Water, Land, and
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair

 
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