STAND. COM. REP. NO. 205

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 202

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 202 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to contract its review of proposed state projects, projects on privately owned historic property, and projects affecting historic properties to third-party consultants, if the Division is unable to complete its review within sixty days.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the General Contractors Association of Hawaii; Associated Builders and Contractors, Hawaii Chapter; Building Industry Association of Hawaii; and NAIOP Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation.

Your Committee finds that the preservation of the historic and cultural heritage of the State is in the public interest. However, your Committee further finds that the existing process for reviewing projects has faced a severe backlog. This measure will alleviate that backlog by allowing a third-party consultant to complete timely reviews when the State Historic Preservation Division is unable to do so.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing, rather than requiring, the State Historic Preservation Division to contract its reviews to a third-party consultant;

(2) Inserting an appropriation of an unspecified amount for the Division to contract third-party consultants;

(3) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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 Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 202, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 202, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair