STAND. COM. REP. NO.  186-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3177

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 3177 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to strengthen the Department of Land and Natural Resources' (DLNR's) enforcement tools for violations occurring on lands within the Conservation Districts by:

(1)  Increasing the maximum fine from $2,000 to $10,000; and

(2)  Authorizing the Board of Land and Natural Resources to assess fines based on the value of damages to natural resources.

     DLNR, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and the Sierra Club—Hawaii Chapter testified in support of this bill. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3177 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair