STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1086

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1079

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1079, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FEES FOR HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide a funding mechanism to help the Department of Land and Natural Resources continue to assist landowners in developing, renewing, and monitoring habitat conservation plans by authorizing the Department to collect fees to cover associated costs.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from William J. Aila, Jr., Chairperson, Department of Land and Natural Resources; Richard Lim, Director, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; David Lane Henkin, Attorney, Earthjustice; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that development, while beneficial in other ways, may negatively affect Hawaii's population of threatened and endangered species.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources has established a program to assist landowners with their habitat conservation plans to avoid, minimize, mitigate, and monitor take of threatened and endangered species.

     In recent years, however, the demand for these services has grown, and the department cannot meet the increased demand under its current budget.  This measure will enable the Department of Land and Natural Resources to continue providing these valuable services by implementing fees to cover the costs of the program and adopting rules for establishing the fees.

     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 H.B. No. 1079, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair