STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2666

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2972

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2972 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BEACH MANAGEMENT FOR THE NORTH SHORE OF OAHU,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require, and appropriate moneys for, the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program to create a North Shore beach management plan for the island of Oahu.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaii System, Department of Design and Construction of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Shore and Beach Preservation Association, Keep the North Shore Country, Land Use Research Foundation, and five individuals.

     Your Committee finds that several important beaches on the North Shore of Oahu are at increasing risk of erosion and deterioration due to high energy waves, heavy winter surf, tsunami events, sea level rise and climate change, and intensive use by people who access the shoreline.  Therefore, the creation of a comprehensive assessment and modern management plan for the North Shore's northwest-facing coastline would provide important guidance for establishing specific beach management policies and practices to benefit this important area.

     Your Committee notes that, during its deliberations on the state budget, this Committee will consider appropriating moneys for the North Shore beach management plan from the beach restoration special fund rather than the general revenues of the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by requiring that the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program submit the North Shore beach management plan to the Governor and the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2019.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2972, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2972, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair