Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 48 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to allow the Director of Transportation, with the approval of the Governor, to lease submerged lands and lands beneath tidal waters under the custody of the Department of Transportation for marine activities.

Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was received from the Department of Transportation. The Hawaii Government Employees Association and Hawaii's Thousand Friends opposed this measure.

Your Committee recognizes that the leasing of submerged lands and lands beneath tidal waters can generate needed revenues for the State. At the same time, your Committee understands the need to balance the economic benefits and the environmental impact this measure may have on Hawaii's fragile ecosystem. Your Committee feels that, despite these concerns, this bill warrants further discussion.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 48, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 48, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land Use and Hawaiian Affairs.