Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 690, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish administrative penalties for violations relating to the natural area reserves and the endangered species laws and to increase criminal penalties for violations of the endangered species law.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and one individual.

Your Committee finds that DLNR has initiated the use of administrative penalties for many of its natural resource programs and believes they are an effective means of handling violations. This measure would further extend these protective procedures, and provide both administrative and criminal prosecution options for serious infractions.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 690, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.