STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1115

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 521

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 521, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY LAND USE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Surplus Military Land Task Force within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to:

(1) Plan for the remediation and restoration of lands currently under federal control that are anticipated to be returned to the State;

(2) Consider potential alternative uses; and

(3) Identify any lands that should continue under federal control for the next ten years.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Hawaii Military Affairs Council.

Your Committees find that it is necessary for the State to continue to take a proactive approach as the upcoming expirations of land leases between the State and the United States government lead to the return of state ceded lands. This measure seeks to facilitate the remediation and restoration of properties in the State that have been used as military facilities.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of March 22, 2075, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 521, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 521, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair