Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 42, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require vessels traveling more than one mile off shore to be equipped with a properly functioning Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or VHF-FM radio.

This bill exempts:

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Boaters Political Action Association, Hawaii Ocean Safety Team, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and a concerned individual provided testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that many of the sea-craft fatalities or near fatalities over the past years may have been avoided through the use of an EPIRB or VHF-FM radio. Many fatalities occur simply because rescue personnel are unable to locate the craft in distress.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 42, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.