STAND. COM. REP. NO.3124

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.R. No. 38

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 38 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PROGRAM AND FINANCIAL AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a program and financial audit of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division, including general operations, organizational structure, various funding opportunities, internal budgeting and fiscal controls, and status of the draft administrative rules.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, O`ahu Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Committee on Preservation of Historic Sties and Cultural Properties, HGEA-AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO, Society for Hawaiian Archaeology, Cultural Surveys Hawai`i, International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc., and eight individuals. The Department of Land and Natural Resources testified in opposition. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting, County of Kauai Planning Department, Castle & Cooke, Resorts, LLC, and two individuals submitted comments.

Your Committee finds considerable support for an audit to address the many concerns raised in this measure. In response, your Committee also heard that the Division has been hampered by financial and personnel cuts over the years. Your Committee recognizes the difficulties of operating with insufficient resources, however, the members believe an audit could also be an opportunity for the Division to confront the shortcomings of the past as a means for change.

Your Committee has amended this measure to add the island burial councils to the list of entities from whom the Auditor will gather and consider information.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 38, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 38, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment,

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair