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HI SCR85

Concurrent Resolution

Status

Engrossed

4/6/2017

Primary Sponsor

Brickwood Galuteria

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2017 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • OHA is requested to convene a task force of Hawaiian leaders, legal scholars, and Hawaiian community members to review whether OHA trustees should be appointed rather than elected.

  • The task force should consider the appropriate appointing authority and how to develop a list of qualified potential trustees for submission to that authority.

  • OHA must report findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2018 Regular Session convenes.

  • The resolution cites concerns that non-Hawaiians can now vote for and run for OHA trustee positions following federal court decisions (Rice v. Cayetano and Arakaki v. State), which has diminished Hawaiian self-determination through elections.

  • The 2016 OHA election showed high rates of blank votes (23-26.9 percent), indicating voter disengagement with the electoral process.

Legislative Description

Requesting The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs To Convene A Task Force Of Hawaiian Leaders, Legal Scholars, And A Broad Representation Of Members Of The Hawaiian Community To Review And Consider Whether Its Fiduciary Duty To Better The Conditions Of Hawaiians And Manage Its Resources To Meet The Needs Of Hawaiian Beneficiaries Would Be Better Served By Having Trustees Appointed Rather Than Elected.

OHA

Last Action

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Tupola voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Ward voting no (1) and Representative(s) Har, Kobayashi, C. Lee, McKelvey, Oshiro, Souki excused (6).

4/17/2017

Committee Referrals

Finance4/17/2017
Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs4/7/2017
Ways and Means3/29/2017
Hawaiian Affairs3/15/2017

Full Bill Text

No bill text available