STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1279

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 992

      S.D. 2

      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 Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 992, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VESSELS AGROUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify actions the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) can take when responding to grounded vessels.

     Specifically, the measure clarifies that DLNR may assume immediate control of:

(1)  A vessel that is grounded on state submerged land, a shoreline, or a coral reef, or in imminent danger of breaking up, if the vessel cannot be removed by the owner within 24 hours of grounding; and

(2)  A vessel not in imminent danger of breaking up that is grounded on a sand beach, sand bar, or mudflat, after the owner or owner's representative has been given 72 hours of notice to remove the vessel and has not done so in a reasonably safe manner,

unless the owner of the vessel receives notice from DLNR and has commenced effective salvage operations.

DLNR, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Ocean Tourism Coalition, and an individual testified in support of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 992, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Chair