Bill Text: HI HB708 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Banyan Drive; Advisory Committee; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-12-17 - Carried over to 2016 Regular Session. [HB708 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HB708-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	708
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to public lands.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that, under current laws, many public land lessees face uncertain futures following expiration of their leases.  These lessees have little incentive to make major investments in infrastructural improvements or to ensure the long-term maintenance of facilities because their tenancies may not continue.  As a result, the infrastructure and facilities on these properties have been deteriorating.

     The legislature further finds that this is the case for the hotel and resort leases in the Banyan Drive area on the Waiakea Peninsula in East Hawaii.  The Banyan Drive area contains more than eighty-five per cent of the hotel rooms in East Hawaii.  Due to the uncertainty regarding continued tenancy, improvements have not been made and infrastructure has deteriorated.

     Since the 1990's, the legislature has attempted to pass legislation to extend the leases in the Banyan Drive area.  A bill passed in 1999 was vetoed because the measure "attempts to address the concerns of the lessees by treating the lessees differently than all other lessees of state lands. . . ."  In 2011, Act 219, Session Laws of Hawaii 2011, authorized the board of land and natural resources to extend hotel or resort leases for lessees who commit to make substantial upgrades to the existing improvements.

     With the expiration of the remaining leases on Banyan Drive in 2015, and the importance of the area to the economy of East Hawaii, it is even more critical that the revitalization of the area be addressed.  In the summer of 2011, airlines resumed direct flights from the mainland to Hilo.  The development of visitor facilities is important to creating and maintaining the demand necessary to preserve air service to East Hawaii.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish an advisory committee to examine the barriers that hinder redevelopment of visitor facilities and infrastructure in the Banyan Drive area on the Waiakea Peninsula in East Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established a Waiakea Peninsula advisory committee that shall be attached to the office of planning for administrative purposes only, to:

     (1)  Identify the barriers that hinder or prevent the timely redevelopment, enhancement, or reconstruction of the facilities in the Banyan Drive area on the Waiakea Peninsula;

     (2)  Identify obsolete concepts, administrative procedures, and conflicting policies that should be simplified, clarified, or eliminated; and

     (3)  Recommend changes to reduce or eliminate the barriers to the improvement of the hotel and resort facilities on public lands in the Banyan Drive area.

     (b)  The advisory committee shall consist of the following members or their representatives:

     (1)  The director of the office of planning, who shall serve as the chairperson of the advisory committee;

     (2)  The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources;

     (3)  The director of planning of the county of Hawaii; and

     (4)  Nine members of the community from East Hawaii who have expertise, knowledge, and experience in:

         (A)  Business management;

         (B)  Economics, banking, investment, or finance;

         (C)  Real estate development;

         (D)  Real estate management;

         (E)  Marketing; or

         (F)  Hotel and resort management,

          to be invited by the director of the office of planning to participate on the advisory committee.

     (c)  The members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     SECTION 3.  (a)  The Waiakea Peninsula advisory committee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2016.

     (b)  The legislative reference bureau shall assist the advisory committee in the drafting of any proposed legislation as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  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 2015-2016 for the Waiakea Peninsula advisory committee to carry out the purposes of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of planning for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Banyan Drive; Advisory Committee; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes an advisory committee to examine the barriers that hinder the redevelopment of visitor facilities and infrastructure in the Banyan Drive area on the Waiakea Peninsula in East Hawaii.  Appropriates moneys for the advisory committee.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.