STAND. COM. REP. NO.  746-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   S.B. No. 1315

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred S.B. No. 1315, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to transfer the conservation and resources enforcement program from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to the Department of Public Safety.

     For purposes of a public hearing, your Committee circulated a proposed H.D. 1 version that deletes the provisions of the bill and inserts new language from House Bill No. 2584, establishing the Conservation and Resources Enforcement Special Fund to be administered and expended by DLNR to enforce natural, cultural, and historic resources protection laws and rules.

     DLNR, the Hawaii Government Employees Association, and The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii testified in support of the proposed H.D. 1 version of this bill.  The Hawaii Boaters Political Action Association and a concerned individual opposed the proposed H.D. 1.  The Department of Budget and Finance provided comments. 

     Your Committee finds that this measure is necessary for DLNR to accept private, multi-year grant-funding sources that will provide DLNR with additional financial resources to improve natural, cultural, and historic resources and public education and information, and to enhance enforcement operations.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by adopting the language in the proposed H.D. 1.

     This bill has been further amended by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1315, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1315, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair