OHA settlement bill advances in Senate
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reports:A bill offering a temporary solution to the dispute over ceded land revenues won approval from the Senate Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee yesterday, despite reservations raised by the Legislature's two part-Hawaiian senators.
Under the agreement, reached by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Lingle administration last month, the state would give OHA $15.1 million annually as its share of ceded land revenues. OHA, which serves Native Hawaiian interests, has been receiving about $10 million annually over the past three years. OHA would also get a one-time payment of $17.5 million to cover back payments.
The bill now goes to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The House Hawaiian Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote on its version of the bill tomorrow.
Posted: Tue - February 14, 2006 at 09:10 AM