HB 402 Summary

• Requires all grants and contracts awarded by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to be individually approved by the board of trustees through separate votes.

• Reduces the University of Hawaii's portion of public land trust receipts to only amounts equal to tuition and special funds used for Native Hawaiian programs, redirecting remaining revenues to OHA.

• Establishes a public land trust revenues negotiating committee composed of the governor, legislative leaders, and OHA representatives to determine increased annual income and proceeds for OHA from the public land trust.

• Requires the Department of Budget and Finance to conduct a financial review of public land trust revenues and the Auditor to review all state programs serving Hawaiians, with reports due before the 2020 legislative session.

• Prohibits any revenue increases recommended by the negotiating committee from being implemented until the required fiscal and comprehensive reviews are completed and submitted to the legislature.