STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1604-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2451

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2451, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHAPTER 183, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Change the general administrative penalties for timber trespass in forest reserves to a fine of not more than the market value at the time and place of the violation for each Koa tree or other tree or plant destroyed or harvested;

     (2)  Clarify that a person who violates the provisions of or rules related to the State's forest reserve laws, other than timber trespass in forest reserves, is subject to imprisonment and escalating minimum fines; and

     (3)  Repeal the general penalty provisions related to the State's laws governing forest reserves, water development, and zoning; Hawaiian fishponds; conservation districts; wildlife; state parks and recreation areas; and land fire protection law.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources provided testimony in support of the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2451, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair