STAND. COM. REP. NO.  98

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 206

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 206 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require that all publicly-funded landscape projects incorporate specified minimum percentages of plant species that existed in Hawaii prior to Western contact, subject to certain exceptions and allowing for a gradual phasing-in of the requirements.

The Judiciary, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Ali‘i Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, Kua‘aina Ulu ‘Auamo, Hawaii Green Growth, The Nature Conservancy, Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development, and many individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Accounting and General Services submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, and State Procurement Office submitted comments.

     Your Committee notes the concerns raised in testimony by the Comptroller that this measure may increase the complexity and administrative obligations of the procurement process.  Your Committee urges further consideration of procurement issues in the continued discussion of this measure as it progresses through the legislative process. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the Board of Land and Natural Resources' obligation to consent to determinations made by a county zoning agency; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 206, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 206, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair