STAND. COM. REP. NO.  934

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1552

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1552, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that native Hawaiian culture continues to be nurtured and fostered by:

 

     (1)  Authorizing the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to issue long-term residential leases to qualified persons who currently reside in a State Living Park and those who will be identified by an approved Living Park Master Plan; and

 

     (2)  Requiring the establishment of a Living Park Planning Council, tasked with developing the Living Park Master Plan, subject to DLNR approval, for each State Living Park.

 

     This bill also specifies that persons currently residing in a Living Park shall not be evicted on the grounds that they lack a valid lease; provided that they are contributing at least 25 hours a month to benefit the park.


 

     The Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, Ko'olauloa Hawaiian Civic Club, Ko'olaulau Hawaiian Civic Club, O'ahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  DLNR provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1552, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1552, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair