STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1714

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 150

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 150 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH UNIFORM RULES AND PERMITTING PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC BEACH WEDDINGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure access to state-controlled beaches by requesting that the Department of Land and Natural Resources establish uniform rules and permitting procedures for public beach weddings.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Maui Wedding Association, the Maui Wedding Network, and six individuals.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Hawaii beaches are becoming popular locations for wedding ceremonies for residents and tourists, however, couples planning weddings have received conflicting information about permitting procedures and requirements, often being told that permits are not required.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources has acknowledged that uniform rules and permitting procedures need to be adopted to address these inconsistencies.  Your Committee finds that requesting the Department to establish uniform rules and permitting procedures for weddings on state-controlled beaches will ensure consistent intra-agency enforcement of these rules and ensure continued access to state-controlled beaches for various activities, including weddings.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the request for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to require a beach wedding permit when twenty-five or more chairs are to be set-up on the beach and unattended for thirty minutes or more;

     (2)  Emphasizing that in cooperating with the counties in establishing appropriate rules and permits for beach weddings, the Department establish rules that are consistent between the State and counties;

     (3)  Requesting that the Department provide opportunities for input and collaboration with wedding service providers for beach weddings in Hawaii during the rulemaking process; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of style and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 150, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 150, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair