CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2013

RE:    S.B. No. 1207

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1207, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt all work involving submerged lands used for state commercial harbor purposes from the permit and site plan approval requirements for lands within the conservation district.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the exemption provided by this measure allows the Harbors Division of the Department of Transportation to plan and more effectively and efficiently implement projects in a timely manner to meet the growing needs of the maritime industry.  The "just in time" cargo system for Hawaii is dependent upon the state commercial harbors system, as ninety-eight percent of imported goods pass through harbors.  Significant impacts to facility operations and delivery of goods can occur if necessary capital projects are not completed or harbor facilities are not maintained or rehabilitated in a timely manner due to unnecessary permit delays.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting references to state and federal laws or regulations applicable to the United States Army Corps of Engineers;

     (2)  Deleting the language requiring that the exemption be applicable to expedite any maintenance work to rehabilitate and upgrade the State's existing commercial harbors system; and

     (3)  Changing the effective date to upon approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1207, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1207, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Co-Chair	____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair
____________________________ CINDY EVANS, Co-Chair	____________________________ MALAMA SOLOMON, Co-Chair