STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3650

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2613

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2613, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR HE‘EIA NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to maintain the initial staff necessary to develop and manage the He‘eia Estuarine Research Reserve and its programs.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; University of Hawaii System; Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology; Aha Moku Advisory Committee; Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; National Estuarine Research Reserve Association; Nature Conservancy; Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that funding for the initial staffing of the He‘eia Estuarine Research Reserve is essential for continued coastal management of the reserve.

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 H.B. No. 2613, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair