STAND. COM. REP. NO.  661

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 499

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 499, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Authorize the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to establish a research program on the stewardship of aquaculture and marine protected areas; and

     (2)  Appropriate an unspecified amount of funds for the program on a matching basis with federal funds to enhance the Institute's ability to acquire federal research dollars for marine science research.

The Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association and a few individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology of the University of Hawaii at Manoa provided comments on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 499, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair