STAND. COM. REP. NO.  918

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1268

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1268 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to expand the list of potential assignees of 999-year homestead leases by authorizing the transfer or assignment of the leases to trustees of a land trust established to manage and hold the homestead leasehold estate.

 

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and two concerned individuals supported this measure.  A concerned individual opposed this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure may not fully address the complex issues that can arise among family members regarding 999-year homestead leases.  As this measure moves forward in the legislative process, your Committee respectfully recommends that a more thorough and comprehensive solution be examined.  Your Committee also respectfully requests that consideration be given to limiting eligible trustees to third-party individuals and prohibiting lessees from being designated as trustees.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2100, to encourage further discussion; and

 

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1268, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1268, H.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair