STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1426

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1068

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1068, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BEACHES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to include in the State's objectives and policies for the physical environment under section 226-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, of the Hawaii State Planning Act:

(1) The promotion of statewide beach assessments and beach and shoreline restoration and conservation; and

(2) The pursuit of compatible relationships among activities, facilities, Native Hawaiian traditional practices mauka to makai, and natural resources.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program and Climate Resilience Collaborative, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committee finds that this measure would help to protect the State's natural resources, including beaches and other shorelines.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding beach and shoreline adaptation as part of the State's objectives and policies for the physical environment under section 226-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, of the Hawaii State Planning Act;

(2) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes that it is unclear whether the inclusion of "Native Hawaiian traditional practices mauka and makai" in this measure falls within the scope of its title.

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 S.B. No. 1068, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1068, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair