STAND. COM. REP. NO.  590-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2078

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2078 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUATIC RESOURCES PENALTIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize courts to require a person who has violated laws pertaining to aquatic resources, fishing rights and regulations, or marine life conservation to complete an aquatic resources educational class administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources in lieu of or in addition to paying a monetary fine or to perform community service administered by the Department in lieu of paying a monetary fine.

The Judiciary, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, The Nature Conservancy, Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea, Ho‘omana Pono, LLC, and three individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. One individual submitted testimony in opposition.   The Office of Hawaiian Affairs submitted comments.

     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. 2078 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair