STAND. COM. REP. NO.1726

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 444

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 444, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BURIAL SITES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources to execute a mitigation plan in situations where a historic or prehistoric Hawaiian burial site has been inadvertently discovered.

At present, where a burial site is found during a project, the landowner, permittee, or developer is responsible for the execution of the mitigation plan. Under this bill, the Department may execute the plan where the Department finds it appropriate, upon request by the landowner, permittee, or developer. The landowner, permittee, or developer must first obtain bids from two prequalified archaeological firms. The Department may charge a fee for its services, and shall adopt rules establishing a schedule of such fees.

Your Committee finds that allowing the landowner, permittee, or developer to request that the mitigation be carried out by the Department will provide the former with the flexibility and convenience. Allowing the Department to charge reasonable fees for this service will ensure that the State will suffer no economic loss by taking on this responsibility.

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 H.B. No. 444, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair