HI HB2388

Establishes a geothermal royalties working group within the Office of Hawaiian Affairs consisting of 12 members including representatives from OHA, Hawaiian Homes Commission, Board of Land and Natural Resources, Attorney General, Department of Taxation, and other state agencies, plus community representatives.

Directs the working group to investigate the feasibility of requiring geothermal energy companies operating in Hawaii to pay royalties benefiting Native Hawaiians with 50 percent or less blood quantum for programs addressing homelessness, affordable housing, and incarceration.

Requires the working group to examine royalty generation amounts, payment distribution methods, legal concerns, economic impacts, program administration costs, and necessary statutory changes to implement a geothermal royalty payment program.

Mandates the chairperson of the OHA Board of Trustees to submit a report with findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the legislature no later than 20 days before the 2015 regular session convenes.

Working group members serve without compensation but receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses; the working group ceases to exist on June 1, 2015.