STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1101-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2453

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 S.B. No. 2453 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to give the Environmental Courts discretion to impose alternative sentencing penalties, in the form of mandatory education or community service administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, for violations of state aquatic resources laws.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Judiciary, Malama Pupukea-Waimea, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, and several individuals.  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 S.B. No. 2453 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