STAND. COM. REP. NO.  40-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2590

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 2590 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUATIC RESOURCE VIOLATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen enforcement of penalties resulting from aquatic resource violations by:

     (1)  Authorizing the Board of Land and Natural Resources to impose natural resource-related community service in lieu of or in addition to monetary fines; and

     (2)  Providing a process by which violators with outstanding fines or community service requirements may have their driver's license privileges suspended or revoked after a thirty-day notification period and a reasonable opportunity to be heard.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Malama Pupukea-Waimea, the Open Tourism Coalition, The Nature Conservancy, Hui Hoomalu i ka Aina, Fish and Coral Think Tank, Malama Maunalua, Conservation Council for Hawaii, and several individuals supported this measure.  For the Fishes and the Snorkel Bob Foundation opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 H.B. No. 2590, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JERRY L. CHANG, Chair