STAND. COM. REP. NO.  288-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2622

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2622 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MARINE RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect Hawaii's marine environment by establishing the Coral Reef and Marine Life Conservation Special Fund to collect moneys to be used for the conservation, supplementation, and enhancement of the State's coral reefs and other marine resources.

An individual provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and an individual provided testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Department of Budget and Finance provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, for the purpose of facilitating further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2622, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2622, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

FAYE P. HANOHANO, Chair