STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1615

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 106

       H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 106, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES' DIVISION OF BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawai‘i; Li‘i Makau, Inc.; and eleven individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee notes that in recent years there have been numerous concerns raised regarding the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, particularly the Division's perceived lack of effective communication with the boating community, inconsistency in interpreting and enforcing administrative rules, management, and ongoing issues of employee misconduct complaints and ethics violations.  Your Committee notes that the Division's jurisdiction encompasses a wide range of boating and ocean activities that significantly impact our local communities.  Your Committee finds that the public interest is best served by government transparency and accountability, and finds this measure is necessary to address the public perception of the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 106, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair