STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2835

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2528

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2528, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE PARKS ON KAUAI,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide dedicated funding for the care and operation of Kokee state park and the Waimea canyon state park.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and two individuals submitted testimony in opposition to the measure and one individual submitted comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that Kokee and Waimea canyon state parks are unique, fragile ecosystems that provide trails and historic-cultural qualities for residents and tourists alike.  These parks, however, are in danger of commercialization and overuse and have suffered from disrepair and lack of maintenance.

     This measure establishes a budget sub-account for these state parks within the state parks special fund.  The sub-account would ensure that a portion of the proceeds from concessions, leases, and commissions collected at the Kokee and Waimea canyon state parks would be used for their repair and upkeep to ensure that the parks' natural beauty and uniqueness are preserved for years to come.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

(1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion on this matter; and

(2)  Making technical amendments that have no substantive effect.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2528, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2528, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair