House Committee Moves to Repeal PLDC

PLDC Hearing, February 11, 2013. Courtesy Photo.

By Wendy Osher

The House Committees on Water & Land and Finance unanimously adopted HB1133, which would repeal the Public Land Development Corporation.

The bill is now subject to a full vote on the House floor and, should it pass, it would then cross over to the Senate for further consideration.

House lawmakers say the remainder of the bills relating to the PLDC, which would have severely overhauled its scope and administrative rules, have been held in Committee.

“The public has spoken and the House has responded,” said WAL Chair Cindy Evans (North Kona, North Kohala, South Kohala). “It was made clear that the best course of action would be to repeal this controversial Corporation and that’s what we have moved to do.”

Critics say the agency’s powers are too broad and are placed in the hands of a select few. Supporters say the PLDC helps to generate revenues and would allow for use of the lands for public purposes that otherwise would not have sufficient funding.