Bill Text: HI HB1391 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Department Of Hawaiian Homelands.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [HB1391 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HB1391-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1391
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to department of hawaiian homelands.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  In 1921, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole authored an Act of Congress, The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, that promised 203,000 acres of land to restore both land and dignity to Native Hawaiians.  Nearly one hundred years later, only approximately 9,700 homesteads have been opened and 27,000 Hawaiians are on the waitlist for leases.  It is clear, based upon these numbers, that collective and cumulative neglect at all levels has resulted in a failure to carry out the mandates promised to the Native Hawaiian people. 

     The legislature finds that the failure to properly and efficiently administer the requirements of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act are of serious concern both to the State of Hawaii and to those individuals impacted by the significant and inexcusable waitlist delays.  As time passes, the pool of eligible Hawaiians is dwindling, thus the importance associated with rectifying this issue cannot be overstated. 

     The legislature further finds it nearly inconceivable that an entity controlling more than 203,000 acres of land in Hawaii does not have the financial resources necessary to carry out their mandate.  Lack of funding, inadequate planning and management, and inaction on multiple levels, has contributed to the current state of deficiency in administering the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.  It is time to take a new, multifaceted, and innovative approach to correct this extremely complex problem. 

     The purpose of this Act is to create a task force to examine the current operation and practices of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, particularly as it relates to use and distribution of its land assets, and to further provide suggestions and innovative solutions to end the waitlist issue and assist with initiatives designed to increase self-funding through better leveraging of assets.

     SECTION 2.  (a) There is established within the department of Hawaiian homelands a land and asset management task force to review the current process employed by the department in relation to the administration of their responsibilities under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. 

     (b)  The following individuals shall serve as members of the task force:

(1) The director of the department of Hawaiian homelands or the director's designee;

(2) A representative from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as designated by the board of trustees;

(3) A representative from the Hawaii banking community possessing sufficient experience in lending practices related to leasehold property;

(4) A representative from the Hawaii business community familiar with real estate development practices in Hawaii; and

(5) A representative from a federal loan guarantee program, such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Task force members may recommend additional members with appropriate specialized experience to the task force to be approved by a majority of members present.

     (c)  The task force shall:

(1)  Through the examination of current department operational procedures determine best practices in fulfilling the mandates of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act;

(2)  Develop concrete solutions to significantly reduce or eliminate the time beneficiaries spend on the land lease waiting list; and

(3)  Explore creative solutions to self-funding the department of Hawaiian homelands by leveraging assets already in their portfolio.

     (d)  The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening the regular session of 2020.

     (e)  The task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2021.

          SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for travel and related expenses.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of Hawaiian homelands for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Department of Hawaiian homelands; task force

 

Description:

Establishes a task force to examine the current operation and practices of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, particularly as it relates to use and distribution of its land assets, and to further provide suggestions and innovative solutions to end the waitlist issue and assist with initiatives designed to increase self-funding through better leveraging of assets.

 

 

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