STAND. COM. REP. NO.  208

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 440

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 440 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for projects undertaken in accordance with watershed management plans; forest and outdoor recreation improvements; and fire, natural disaster, and emergency response.  

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, Oahu Invasive Species Committee, Maui Invasive Species Committee, Kauai Invasive Species Committee, and a few concerned individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Society for Hawaii Heritage Animals, Hawaii Sportsmen's Alliance, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawaii Hunting Association, and many individuals submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 440 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair