STAND. COM. REP. NO.35

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 382

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 382 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the duties of the Hui 'Imi Advisory Council (Council) under Act 376, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 1997, add members to the Council, and transfer the Council from the Department of Accounting and General Services to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). This measure also makes an appropriation to the Council.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and OHA. Testimony in opposition was received from Ka Lahui Hawaii.

Act 376, SLH 1997, established the Council, which was previously created as a task force under Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 106, 1989, to make findings and recommendations concerning the coordination of public and private agency services available to Hawaiians in the areas of education, economic development, housing, employment, medicine, law, cultural issues, and social service issues. The task force produced a two-volume report entitled "The Hui 'Imi Task Force for Hawaiian Services", containing findings and thirty-nine recommendations. Act 376, SLH 1997, followed through by requiring the Council to formulate an action plan to carry out its recommendations.

The Council is presently composed of nineteen members representing a broad range of government and community groups involved with the health and welfare of Hawaiians. This measure adds the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the University of Hawaii. Your Committee believes that these additions would augment the effectiveness of the Council.

Your Committee finds that transferring the Council from the Department of Accounting and General Services to OHA is a better fit for the Council. Your Committee further finds that clarifying the duties of the Council to reflect current needs is advisable.

Your Committee has amended this measure by correcting a spelling error.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 382, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 382, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair