Office of Hawaiian Affairs
July 8, 2010
Agreement on the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act
Moves Bill Forward
Explanation of the Amendment to H.R. 2314
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is posting this information to NativeHawaiians.com to assure all have access to the proposed amendment to H.R. 2314 as agreed to by Senator Akaka, Senator Inouye, Governor Lingle and Attorney General Bennett, and to explain the amendment. It is anticipated that H.R. 2314 with the amendment will move to the U.S. Senate floor this month.
The changes to the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, H.R. 2314, that have been the subject of recent agreement between Governor Lingle and Senators Akaka and Inouye, address the status of jurisdiction to be exercised by the Native Hawaiian Governing Entity and the State of Hawai‘i during the interim period — the period between the time the United States extends Federal recognition to the Native Hawaiian Governing Entity and the time that the legislation to implement the agreements reached amongst the United States, the State of Hawai‘i, and the Native Hawaiian Governing Entity have been enacted into law.
The changes provide that during the interim period, the State of Hawai‘i shall continue to exercise criminal and civil jurisdiction over all persons, including the officers and employees of the recognized Native Hawaiian Governing Entity. In addition, the changes provide that the State of Hawai‘i shall continue to provide for the regulation of public health and safety, until such time as the State of Hawai‘i and the Native Hawaiian governing entity have reached agreement on how regulation to protect public health and safety is to be exercised by both governments, and the Secretary of the Department of the Interior has certified that the agreement of the two governments is consistent with applicable Federal law.
To view the amendment to H.R. 2314, as well as each of the press statements about the agreement from Senators Akaka and Inouye, Governor Lingle and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, see attached documents below.
For more information please visit www.oha.org/nhgra. Mahalo.
HR 2314 amendment July 2010 ARP10167
Senators Akaka and Inouye Press Release 7 7 2010
Governor NR-Akaka Bill Amendments 7 7 10
OHA on Akaka Bill moving fwd 7 7 10 (2)