STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2249

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2331

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2331 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify that the Governor may waive historic preservation requirements in an emergency proclamation only when there is an imminent or presently occurring emergency which threatens health and safety.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation, Society for Hawaiian Archaeology, and four individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of the Governor, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committees find that existing historic preservation requirements provide for a robust review process to ensure protection of the State's historic identity. However, certain emergency instances such as natural disasters or other urgent and acute threats may require immediate action. As historic preservation and environmental protections are important objectives of the State, this measure will waive historic preservation requirements when action is required to protect lives and property.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2331 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair