Summary of Bills Repealing the PLDC

by Senator Laura Thielen January 22, 2013

As of this morning, 10 bills have been filed to repeal the PLDC.  Any one of these 10 can serve as the vehicle to repeal the PLDC.

However, all 10 bills illustrate the care that needs to be taken when repealing a law and eliminating a State Office, even a fairly new one.

The most obvious change needed is to strike out or eliminate the statutory language creating the PLDC.

Slightly less obvious changes include striking any language inserted into various other statutes that direct or authorize other agencies or offices to work with the PLDC, such as HCDA.

The least obvious changes are directions on what to do with the assets, liabilities, responsibilities, leftover appropriated funds and any proceeds.  Also, directions on what happens to any civil service or exempt personnel in the PLDC.

It may be that one or two of the Repeal Bills address every item that needs to be addressed.  But several clearly do not.  Mine and at least two others, for example, do not address where to place the PLDC personnel, unexpended appropriations, and any proceeds.

Several bills direct the sole PLDC Planner to be placed in DLNR; that unexpended appropriations go to the DLNR Land Conservation Fund; and that unexpended proceeds in the Stadium Facilities and School Facilities Special Funds shall be deposited into the General Fund.

The three bills that appear to be the most detailed at SB 1, SB 480 and SB 866.  However, as it’s likely that any of the bills may need technical amendments due to the complications of repealing.  Therefore, any one of the 10 can serve as a vehicle for repeal.

Senators introducing or co-sponsoring these bills include: Baker; English; Green; Hee; Ihara; Keith-Agaran; Kim (by Request for Kauai County); Slom; Thielen.

Repeal Bills:  SB 1; SBs 245, 246; SB 338; SB 425; SB 480; SB 663; SBs 780, 781; SB 866.

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