STAND. COM. REP. NO. 376-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2511

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2511 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide $600,000,000 to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to pursue a multi-pronged approach to eliminating its waitlist. Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes the Hawaiian Home Lands Special Fund; and

(2) Appropriates funds into and out of the Hawaiian Home Lands Special Fund to enable beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust to acquire a residence and to enable the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to fulfill its fiduciary duties to beneficiaries.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities; We Are One, Inc.; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement; Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo; Kanaeokana; The Queen's Health Systems; Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii; Iolani Palace; Hawaiian Community Assets; Hawai‘i Community Lending; Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce; Catholic Charities Hawai‘i; Hawaiian Community Development Board; Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association; and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands faces multi-faceted challenges in fulfilling its mission to develop and deliver land to native Hawaiians. These challenges include the availability of beneficiary preferred lands, cost of infrastructure, and capital for mortgage financing. Your Committee further finds that the revenues collected as of the 2021 fiscal year provide an unprecedented opportunity for the Legislature to ensure critical long-term access to adequate funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to meet its challenges and fulfill its mission to native Hawaiians.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2511, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2511, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair