STAND. COM. REP. NO.  7-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   H.B. No. 629

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 629 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (Monument) program, to be placed within the Office of the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, to coordinate and fulfill the State's role and responsibilities in co-managing the Monument.  Among other things, this measure:

 

     (1)  Allows the Monument program to issue permits consistent with applicable state laws and Presidential Proclamation 8031, which established the Monument;

 

     (2)  Allows the Department of Land and Natural Resources to charge fees that are proportional to the nature and complexity of the projects or services to be performed by the Monument program; and

 

     (3)  Establishes penalty provisions applicable to Monument program violations.

 

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Office of Planning, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and an individual testified in support of this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that establishing the Monument program demonstrates the State's commitment to preserving precious resources within the Monument.  Furthermore, the proposed system of permits, fees, and penalties supports the State's ability to perform its responsibilities as co-manager of the Monument.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Placing the Monument program within the Division of Aquatic Resources, Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 629, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 629, H.D. 1.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair