CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 77-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2016

RE:    S.B. No. 2453

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2453, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Repeal the prohibition on suspension or waiver of fines for violations of certain aquatic resource laws;

     (2)  Authorize the court to require a person who violates certain laws pertaining to aquatic resources 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; and

     (3)  Authorize the court to require a person who violates certain laws pertaining to aquatic resources to perform community service administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources in lieu of paying a monetary fine.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that educational programs and community service opportunities are effective sentencing alternatives to specifically address resource offenses and violators.  Educational programs and community service opportunities deter future violations, enhance public knowledge about Hawaii's resources, and ensure that punishment for resource violations is appropriate.  Your Committee on Conference further finds that an educational curriculum that provides a broad overview of aquatic resource statutes, rules, and regulations, as well as information about closed seasons, restricted areas, and methods of extraction, already exists and would be easily implemented.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2453, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2453, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ KANIELA ING, Co-Chair	___________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair
____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Co-Chair	___________________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Co-Chair
____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Co-Chair	___________________________________ GIL RIVIERE, Co-Chair