STAND. COM. REP. NO.  712

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 670

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

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. 670, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to specify that a simple majority of affirmative votes by members of the Land Use Commission is required for any boundary amendment.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Kupuna for the Mo‘opuna.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Land Use Commission and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

 

Your Committee finds that under existing law, six out of the nine members on the Land Use Commission must affirmatively vote to approve any boundary amendment.  This measure intends to reduce the State's excessive permit approval times by allowing a simple majority of affirmative votes by members of the Land Use Commission for any boundary amendment.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that a simple majority of the members serving on the Land Use Commission is necessary for any boundary amendment; 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. 670, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 670, H.D. 2.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair