Bill Text: HI SB97 | 2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Public Lands.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-13 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM. [SB97 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2023-SB97-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
97 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
In extending the lease of public lands in the Hilo community economic district, Act 149 authorized the board of land and natural resources to:
(1) Modify or eliminate any of the restrictions specified in section 171-36(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(2) Extend or modify the fixed rental period or the term of the lease; provided that the board of land and natural resources approves a development agreement proposed by a lessee to make substantial improvements to the existing improvements or to construct new substantial improvements, so long as the extension does not extend the original lease term by more than forty years; or
(3) Extend the term and modify any provisions of the lease, to the extent necessary to meet the requirements of a lender or to amortize the cost of the substantial improvements that will be paid for by the lessee without institutional financing.
Noticeably missing from Act 149 is language that expressly allows the board of land and natural resources to unilaterally amend any terms and conditions of the extended lease to conform to the most current lease form and leasing practices and policies of the board of land and natural resources. The legislature finds this to be in stark contrast to Act 219, Session Laws of Hawaii 2011 (Act 219), which was a similar measure that authorized the board of land and natural resources to extend hotel or resort leases for lessees who commit to substantial improvement to the existing improvements and contained specific language requiring any extension of a lease granted under the measure to be executed using the most current lease form and leasing practices and policies of the board of land and natural resources.
The legislature also finds that Act 149 allows the board of land and natural resources to subject its approval of lease extensions to additional terms and conditions; provided that such terms and conditions must be set in the rules adopted by the board. The legislature finds, however, to this date, the board of land and natural resources has not adopted any rules governing the extension of leases of public lands under Act 149 or any other lease extensions permitted under chapter 171, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
The legislature further finds that despite the foregoing, the board of land and natural resources has been approving extensions of leases pursuant to Act 149 by amending the lease terms and conditions to conform to the board's most current lease form and leasing practices and policies.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to clarify that:
(1) The board of land and natural resources shall not unilaterally amend the terms and conditions of any lease of public lands being extended pursuant to Act 149, codified at part X of chapter 171, Hawaii Revised Statutes, except as otherwise provided therein; and
(2) If the board of land and natural resources wishes to amend the terms and conditions of any lease of public lands being extended pursuant to Act 149 to reflect the board's most current lease form and leasing practices and policies, such lease form and leasing practices and policies must be included in the rules of the board governing the extension of leases pursuant to Act 149 or chapter 171, Hawaii Revised Statutes, adopted by the board in accordance with chapter 91.
SECTION 2. Section 171-192, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§171-192[]] Lease restrictions. (a)
The board, from time to time, upon the issuance or during the term of
any intensive agricultural, aquaculture, commercial, mariculture, special
livestock, pasture, hotel, resort, or industrial lease of public lands within
the Hilo community economic district, may:
(1) Modify or eliminate any of the restrictions specified in section 171-36(a);
(2) Extend or modify the fixed rental period or the term of the lease upon approval by the board of a development agreement proposed by the lessee to make substantial improvements to the existing improvements or to construct new substantial improvements so long as the length of any extension granted does not extend the original lease term by more than forty years; or
(3) Extend the term and modify any provisions of the lease,
to the extent necessary to qualify the lease for mortgage lending or guaranty purposes with any federal mortgage lending agency; to qualify the lessee for any state or private lending institution loan, private loan guaranteed by the State, or any loan in which the State and any private lender participates; or to amortize the cost of substantial improvements to the demised premises that are paid for by the lessee without institutional financing.
(b) Prior to entering into a development agreement, the lessee or the lessee and developer shall submit to the board the plans and specifications for the total development being proposed. The board shall review the plans and specifications and, in determining whether to approve the development agreement pursuant to subsection (a)(2), consider:
(1) Whether the development proposed in the development agreement is of sufficient worth and value to justify the extension of the lease;
(2) The estimated period of time to complete the improvements and expected date of completion of the improvements; and
(3) The minimum revised annual rent based on the fair market value of the lands to be developed, as determined by an appraiser for the board, and the percentage of rent where gross receipts exceed a specified amount.
(c) An extension of the fixed rental period or term of the lease shall be based on the economic life of the substantial improvements as determined by the board or an independent appraiser; provided that the approval of any extension shall be subject to the following:
(1) The demised premises have been used substantially for the purpose for which they were originally leased;
(2) The length of any extension granted for the fixed rental period of the lease shall not extend the fixed rental period of the original lease by more than forty years;
(3) The length of any extension granted for
the term of the lease shall not extend the original lease term by more than
forty years;
(4) If a reopening occurs, the rental for any ensuing period shall be the fair market rental as determined under section 171-17(d) at the time of reopening;
(5) Any federal or private lending institution shall be qualified to do business in the State;
(6) Proceeds of any mortgage or loan shall be used solely for the operations or substantial improvements on the demised premises;
(7) Where substantial improvements are financed by the lessee, the lessee shall submit receipts of expenditures within a time period specified by the board, otherwise the lease extension shall be canceled; and
(8) The [rules of] most
current lease form and leasing practices and policies of
the board[, setting forth any additional terms and conditions,
which shall ensure]; provided that the lease
form and leasing practices and policies shall:
(A) Ensure and promote the purposes
of the demised lands[.];
(B) Be included in the rules of the
board governing the extension of leases of public lands pursuant to this part
or this chapter, adopted by the board in accordance with chapter 91; and
(C) Not be used as a reason or justification to delay intaking,
processing, considering, and approving requests or application for development
agreements and lease extensions pursuant to this section and the department and
board shall continue to intake and process applications for development
agreements and lease extensions pursuant to this section pending the promulgation
or approval of administrative rules.
(d) The board, from time to time, during the term of any agriculture, intensive agriculture, aquaculture, commercial, mariculture, special livestock, pasture, hotel, resort, or industrial lease of public lands within the Hilo community economic district, may modify or eliminate any of the restrictions specified in section 171-36(a), extend or modify the fixed rental period of the lease, or extend the term of the lease upon a showing of significant economic hardship directly caused by:
(1) State disaster, pursuant to chapter 209, including seismic or tidal wave, tsunami, hurricane, volcanic eruption, typhoon, earthquake, flood, or severe drought; or
(2) A taking of a portion of the area of the lease by government action by eminent domain, withdrawal, or conservation easement; provided that the portion taken shall not be less than ten per cent of the entire leased area unless otherwise approved by the board; provided that the board determines that the lessee will not be adequately compensated pursuant to the lease provisions.
(e) The approval of any extension granted pursuant to subsection (d) shall be subject to the following:
(1) The demised premises has been used substantially for the purposes for which they were originally leased;
(2) The rental shall not be less than the rental for the preceding term;
(3) The [rules of] most
current lease form and leasing practices and policies of the board[,
setting forth any additional terms and conditions which shall ensure]; provided
that the lease form and leasing practices and
policies shall:
(A) Ensure and promote the purposes of the demised lands; and
(B) Be included in the rules of the
board governing the extension of leases of public lands pursuant to this part
or this chapter, adopted by the board in accordance with chapter 91; and
(4) The length of the extension shall not exceed a reasonable length of time for the purpose of providing relief and shall in no case extend the original lease's fixed rental period by more than forty years.
(f) The applicant for any lease extension pursuant to this section shall pay all costs and expenses incurred by the department in connection with the processing, analyzing, and negotiating of any lease extension request and document and of the development agreement under subsections (a) and (b).
(g) Except as otherwise provided in this section,
the board shall not unilaterally amend the terms and conditions of any lease of
public lands being extended pursuant to this part.
(h) For the purposes of this section, "lease
of public lands" includes leases entered into through direct negotiation without
public auction and leases granted at public auction."
SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Public Lands; Hilo Community Economic District; Lease Extension; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Board of Land and Natural Resources
Description:
Clarifies that the Board of Land and Natural Resources shall not unilaterally amend the terms and conditions of any lease of public lands being extended pursuant to Act 149, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, except as otherwise provided therein; and if the Board of Land and Natural Resources wishes to amend the terms and conditions of any lease of public lands being extended to reflect the Board's most current lease form and leasing practices and policies, such lease form and leasing practices and policies must be included in the rules of the Board. Defines "lease of public lands". Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
