H.B. 842 Summary

• Establishes a Hawaii State Planning Act Review Commission consisting of nine members: seven appointed by the governor with senate consent, one senator appointed by the senate president, and one representative appointed by the house speaker.

• Commission members appointed by the governor must include persons with expertise in economics, small and large business administration, Hawaiian culture, environmental protection, tourism, and military affairs.

• Commission shall conduct a systematic review of Chapter 226 (Hawaii State Planning Act) and submit evaluation and policy recommendations to the legislature 30 days prior to the second regular legislative session after members are appointed; new commissions appointed every five years starting July 1, 2020.

• Removes references to "viability of Hawaii's sugar and pineapple industries" from the state planning act's agricultural objectives, replacing them with objectives focused on diversified agriculture and agriculture's role in Hawaii's economic and social well-being.

• Appropriates unspecified funds from general revenues to the office of planning for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021; effective date July 1, 2050.