STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3401

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2486

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Economic Development and Taxation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2486 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require a private or public owner of a building over fifty years old to provide archival quality black and white photographs of the building to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, as a condition of receiving a permit or approval to demolish, construct, or otherwise alter that building.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation.  Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries, Hawaii Electric Light Company and Maui Electric Company, testified in opposition.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that while the intent of this measure would be to produce a lasting record of many of Hawaii's historic buildings, it raises a number of concerns in its present form.  Photographs alone would be incomplete without any supportive information, such as a survey form.  In addition, this measure would place an unnecessary burden on the applicant since archival photographs are very costly, and if the applicant is unable to afford the necessary documentation, they may be less likely to seek out permits for alteration, construction, and demolition of historic buildings.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the requirement for archival photographs would apply only to "any building that is eligible for listing or is listed on the Hawaii or national register of historic places"; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and to conform to the preferred drafting style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Taxation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2486, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2486, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development and Taxation,

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair