STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1247

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1031

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1031 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HISTORIC PLACES REVIEW BOARD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to reduce the number of members who serve on the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board (HHPRB) from ten to seven members.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Your Committee received testimony in opposition of this measure from the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation and one individual.

Your Committee finds that HHPRB currently has two vacancies and that the terms of two of its members will reach the end of their second term, and be ineligible for reappointment, in a few months. According to testimony received by your Committee, HHPRB has consisted of all ten members for approximately twelve months over the past seven years, and recruitment onto the HHPRB continues to be difficult. Your Committee further finds that this measure does not alter the professional qualification requirements necessary under the National Historic Preservation Act. The reduction in members as proposed in this measure would ease problems in recruitment and reduce the inability to meet and conduct business due to a lack of quorum.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1031, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair