STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2842

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2799

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2799 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE KALAUPAPA SETTLEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Health, in consultation with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, to submit a report to the Legislature, prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027, on the plan for the permanent transfer of powers and duties relating to the Kalaupapa Settlement.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Ka Ohana O Kalaupapa, and two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committee finds that a plan for the transfer of powers and duties regarding the Kalaupapa Settlement is essential to accommodate the settlement's remaining residents.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Designating the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Department of Land and Natural Resources as the lead departments in preparing the report; and

(2) Establishing the measure's reporting requirement within session law, rather than the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2799, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2799, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair