STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1185-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.R. No. 125
                                     H.D. 1




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to
which was referred H.R. No. 125 entitled: 

     "HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND
     NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO IDENTIFY
     POTENTIAL SOURCES OF PERMANENT DEDICATED FUNDING AND FUNDING
     NEEDS OF THE NATURAL AREA RESERVES SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to request the Department
of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) convene a working group to
identify potential sources of permanent dedicated funding and to
identify funding needs of the Natural Area Reserves System
(NARS).

     The DLNR and the Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund testified
in support of this resolution.

     Your committee has amended this measure by clarifying that:

     (1)  The annual operating budget for NARS is woefully
          inadequate; and 

     (2)  The active management and protection of NARS, rather
          than its current operating budget, requires a long-term
          commitment, permanent dedicated funding, and adequate
          staff.


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1185-00
                                 Page 2

 
Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made to correct
drafting errors.

     Your Committee finds that NARS contains some of the best
examples of native ecosystems in the State and efforts to find
sources of funding are necessary to ensure that these areas will
be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached
to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and
purpose of H.R. No. 125, as amended herein, and recommends that
it be referred to the Committee on Finance, in the form attached
hereto as H.R. No. 125, H.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Energy and
                                   Environmental Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair