STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1539

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.C.R. No. 209

      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 Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 209 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING SUPPORT FOR THE GOAL OF EFFECTIVELY MANAGING THIRTY PERCENT OF NEARSHORE WATERS BY 2030,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources to support the goal of effectively managing 30 per cent of nearshore waters by 2030.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  One concerned individual testified in opposition to this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources, by 2019, establish benchmarks for the effective management of 30 per cent of nearshore waters by 2030, and to provide an annual report to the Legislature each year, rather than only next year.  Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 209, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 209, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair