STAND. COM. REP. NO. 534

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 580

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 580, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to transfer the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from The Outdoor Circle. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Land Use Commission, and Department of Agriculture.

Your Committees find that the protection of natural and cultural resources is one of the priority objectives and goals of the Hawaii State Plan that the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supports. Your Committees believe that the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development will be able to accomplish this objective more effectively if placed within the Department of Land and Natural Resources instead of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Accordingly, this measure will improve government efficiency by transferring the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 580, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair