STAND. COM. REP. NO.673-02
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: H.B. No. 2542
H.D. 2
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2002
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2542, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BOATING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to enable the State to provide infrastructure improvements at State small boat harbors by increasing the moorage fees for nonresident and commercial permittees.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources testified in support of this measure. The Ocean Tourism Coalition, Coon Bros. Inc., Trilogy Excursions, Paradise Cruise, Ltd., and one concerned individual supported the intent of this bill. Eight concerned individuals offered comments. The Hawaii Boaters Political Action Association, Ala Wai Marina Board, Makai Society, and six concerned individuals opposed this bill.
Your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Inserting the increases in moorage fees for nonresidents as follows:
(a) A 35 percent increase on July 1, 2002; and
(b) Annual 5 percent increases on July 1 of each year from 2003 to 2006;
and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of style and clarity.
Your Committee agrees that a moorage fee increase may be justified and overdue for the following reasons:
(1) To a large degree, the State's small boat harbor operations, including maintenance, must be self-sustaining;
(2) The $250 million price tag for capital improvements to the State small boat harbors must be absorbed by boating moorage and user fees and not by the General Fund as has been proposed; and
(3) The fees at Ala Wai, despite its premier location, are less than one-half of privately-operated facilities at Keehi and Ko Olina. (The fees are substantially lower at all other State small boat harbors.)
While your Committee agrees that moorage fee increases should normally be a part of the administrative rule-making process, the dire need to address the issues cited above, without delay, compels your Committee to take this action.
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. 2542, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2542, H.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,
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____________________________ DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair |