STAND. COM. REP. NO. 79

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 1162

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1162 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC LAND DISPOSITIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to change the public notice requirements for auctions, drawings, direct negotiation, exchanges, quitclaims, submerged and reclaimed lands, reservations, and easements from three successive weeks in both a statewide and county publication to once or twice in either a statewide or local publication.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).

Your Committee finds that under current law the costs for public notices are high, particularly in relation to the upset annual lease rent established for these dispositions. In the past four years, for example, the cost of the public notice has been higher than the average annual rent.

Your Committee further finds that the DLNR keeps a mailing list of bidders interested in state land auctions, posts signs on the property, and is exploring posting a listing of properties to be auctioned on its website. Your Committee believes that these additional alternatives and the modified notice requirements of this measure will save money, while keeping the public sufficiently informed.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1162 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment,

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair