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 S.B. No. 1165 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish administrative penalties for violations of chapter 195 and 195D Hawaii Revises Statutes (HRS), and increase the penalties for violations of chapter 195D, HRS.

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

Your Committee finds that the administrative penalties proposed in this measure are less costly to administer and can be processed more quickly and without litigation. The DLNR has initiated the use of administrative penalties for many of its programs, including hunting and fishing regulations, and finds that it is an effective way to handle violations. Your Committee further finds that the penalties in 195D, HRS, have not been increased since 1983, and that the higher fines will provide a stronger deterrent to violations of protective measures for aquatic life, wildlife, and land plants.

Your Committee is supportive of this measure as a means of more effective enforcement and protection of Hawaii's natural resources. Your Committee has amended this measure to correct a typographical error and to make nonsubstantive changes to reflect preferred drafting style.

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 S.B. No. 1165, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1165, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.