STAND. COM. REP. NO. 198

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 591

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 591 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATERSHED AREAS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to obtain the approval of the Game Management Advisory Commission before designating a new watershed area, conducting a new watershed project, or amending a watershed management plan in a game management area or public hunting area.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hunting Farming and Fishing Association, Hawaii Hunting Association, Waianae Hunting Association, Hawaii Firearms Coalition, Hawaii Sportsmen's Alliance, and many individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i. An individual provided comments.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring prior notice to, rather than the approval of, the Game Management Advisory Commission; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 591, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 591, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair