STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1020

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   S.B. No. 407

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 407, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ISLAND BURIAL COUNCILS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to protect native Hawaiian burial sites by clarifying ambiguous statutory language regarding composition and quorum requirements for island burial councils.

 

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Society for Hawaiian Archaeology, and an individual provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission provided comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Specifying that at least two regional representative seats on each council shall be appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

 

     (2)  Clarifying the process and timeline by which the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Department of Land and Natural Resources submit lists nominating individuals to fill vacancies on the councils;

 

     (3)  Clarifying that notwithstanding the amendments made to the requirements for council members, current sitting council members may serve the remainders of their terms; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Land and Natural Resources stated that it has not had time to review the language proposed by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and adopted by your Committee.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 407, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 407, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

FAYE P. HANOHANO, Chair