STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2155

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2645

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2645 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPLIANCE ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a compliance and enforcement program within the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to investigate complaints, conduct investigations, and cooperate with law enforcement authorities to ensure compliance with laws.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Waiʻanae Valley Homestead Community Association; Keaukaha Community Association; Hoʻomana Pono, LLC; Kapalama Neighborhood Security Watch; and eight individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement and two individuals.

Your Committees find that the health and safety of homestead communities is a top priority. Illegal activity occurring on Hawaiian Home Lands threatens the health and safety of the community. This issue is exacerbated by law enforcement's inconsistent responses to illegal activity on Hawaiian Home Lands across the counties. This measure will provide for enforcement personnel dedicated to Hawaiian Home Lands.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount from $500,000 to a blank amount; and

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

Your Committees note that $2,000,000 is an approximate amount for the establishment of a compliance and enforcement program within the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Your Committees also note that Senate Bill No. 490, S.D. 2 (2023), a carryover measure from the Regular Session of 2023, is similar in intent and purpose to this measure, includes language recommended by the Department of Law Enforcement, and may still be considered this session.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2645, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2645, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

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

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair