STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1553

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 319

      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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 319, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THRILL CRAFT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the operation of thrill craft in state waters when used to conduct ocean cleanup activities.

This measure also requires the:

(1)  Department of Land and Natural Resources to adopt administrative rules to implement the exception provided for ocean cleanup activities; and

(2)  Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources to report to the Legislature, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2014, on the status of the adoption of these rules.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee finds that personal watercraft have become a valuable tool for lifeguards, fire departments, and other public agencies for responding to public safety issues in near shore waters.  Accordingly, your Committee finds that allowing use of personal watercraft in state waters for the purpose of conducting ocean cleanup activities will make the process of ocean cleanup easier and more efficient.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 319, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair