STAND. COM. REP. NO. 848-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2753
                                     H.D. 2




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No.
2753, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OCEAN RECREATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to:

     (1)  Require a two-year moratorium on the issuance of new
          permits for commercial marine mammal watching tours
          along the Waianae Coast of Oahu;

     (2)  Require the Board of Land and Natural Resources to:

          (A)  Conduct a study to determine the maximum number of
               permits for commercial marine watching tours along
               the Waianae Coast of Oahu to be issued based on a
               determination of the impact that these activities
               may have on marine mammals in that region; and

          (B)  Conduct a study to determine the feasibility of
               issuing permits for specific rather than
               unspecified ocean recreational activities along
               the Waianae coastline;

     and

     (3)  Require all persons who have been issued commercial use
          permits that involve marine mammal watching along the

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 848-00
                                 Page 2

 
          Waianae Coast of Oahu to charge paying passengers a $1
          fee that will be deposited with the Department of Land
          and Natural Resources to fund the studies required by
          this bill.

     Two individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Land
and Natural Resources supported the intent of this bill.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this
bill by:

     (1)  Requiring that the fee shall be charged until June 30,
          2002; and

     (2)  Requiring that a report of findings be submitted to the
          Legislature which will include financial accounting of
          all fees deposited into the fund.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2753, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2753, H.D.
2.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Finance,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair