Committee is formed to probe land agency
Sen. Jill Tokuda and Rep. Joe Souki have been selected to head the joint House-Senate committee charged with investigating the state Bureau of Conveyances within the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Allegations that land title information and records were not secure have already led to separate investigations by the attorney general and the Ethics Commission.
The concerns were a main focus in the Senate's confirmation hearings of Peter Young, whose reappointment as DLNR director was ultimately rejected by the chamber.
After the hearings, lawmakers passed a resolution* calling for a legislative investigation into the matter.
"By focusing on the management of the bureau, I hope that the Legislature will be able to help turn this troubled agency around in order to better serve the public," Souki (D, Waihee-Wailuku) said in a news release.
No timetable has been set for the committee to begin its work. A Senate spokesman said those details would be worked out among committee members in the coming days.
On the Senate side, Tokuda (D, Kaneohe-Kailua) is joined by Democratic Sens. Russell Kokubun (Hilo-Naalehu), Carol Fukunaga (D, Lower Makiki-Punchbowl), David Ige (D, Aiea-Pearl City) and Republican Mike Gabbard (Kalealoa-Makakilo).
The other House members on the committee are Democratic Reps. Sharon Har (Makakilo-Kapolei), Karl Rhoads (Kakaako-Downtown), James Tokioka (Wailua-Koloa) and Republican Cynthia Thielen (Kaneohe-Kailua).
Committee members were selected by the Senate president and speaker of the House.
CLARIFICATION
Friday, May 25, 2007
» Peter Young initiated an investigation into the state Bureau of Conveyances while he was director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. A Page A5 article in some editions yesterday did not make that point clear. |