STAND. COM. REP. NO. 499-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2471

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2471 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSPECTIONS ON PUBLIC LAND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a framework for inspections of public land leases, licenses, and revocable permits by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that under existing law, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is authorized to periodically inspect the premises under a lease, license, or revocable permit. However, your Committee notes that many of the Department's land agents are not qualified to identify components of existing structures that may need to be repaired or replaced. For existing structures that the Department's land agents are able to identify that are in need of repair or replacement, existing lease terms and conditions do not provide the Department with sufficient leverage to compel the lessee to make the necessary repair or replacement. This measure will provide such leverage to the Department, thereby ensuring that certain premises under a lease, license, or revocable permit are maintained in an appropriate manner.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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. 2471, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2471, 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