Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 581 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to discourage shark feeding by increasing the minimum fines for violations to:

(1) $250 for a first offense;

(2) $500 for a second offense; and

(3) $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources and two individuals testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that shark feeding must be discouraged, because of its inherent danger. Accordingly, your Committee has replaced the penalty provisions of this bill by making the offense a misdemeanor and by providing a minimum fine of $500 in addition to any other penalties.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 581, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 581, H.D. 1.