STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2657

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2453

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2453 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent 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 Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Judiciary, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Aha Moku Advisory Committee of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, and two individuals.

     Your Committees find that educational programs and community service opportunities are effective sentencing alternatives to address resource offenses and violators.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources has already developed and uses an educational curriculum that provides a broad overview of information pertaining to aquatic resource statutes and regulations.  Implementation of this measure will deter future aquatic resources violations, enhance public knowledge about the State's resources, and ensure appropriate punishment.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2453 and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means,

________________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

________________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair