STAND. COM. REP. NO.  657

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1300

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1300 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Environmental Center of the University of Hawaii to conduct ongoing studies of the environmental impacts of sewage spills on affected coral reefs and report to the Legislature on its findings; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii to conduct the ongoing studies.

The Sierra Club of Hawaii and three individuals supported this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to January 28, 2081, to encourage further discussion.

     Your Committee notes that the Environmental Center of the University of Hawaii may not be the appropriate agency to carry out this measure.  Should the Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider looking for a more appropriate agency to conduct ongoing studies of the environmental impacts of sewage spills on affected coral reefs.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1300, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1300, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair