STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1257

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1028

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1028, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES TRUST FUND,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the type of revenue that can be deposited into the endangered species trust fund to allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources to seek additional types of revenue for the implementation of chapter 195D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and five individuals.

Your Committees find that Hawaii has the unfortunate distinction of being the endangered species capital of the nation. Hawaii's iconic native plants and animals are being threatened by invasive species, fire, and disease. Your Committees further find that funding is limited for the protection of plants and animals that are part of Hawaii's natural and cultural legacy.

Your Committees also find that by allowing fees and assessments charged for any use, rather than only commercial use, of public land and waters, this measure would expand the type of revenue that the Department of Land and Natural Resources could access for endangered species protection. Additionally, this measure enables the Department of Land and Natural Resources to find innovative funding mechanisms to help protect endangered species.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon approval; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1028, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1028, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair