STAND. COM. REP. NO. 928

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1254

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1254 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the sources of revenue that can be deposited into the Endangered Species Trust Fund.

Specifically, this measure repeals the provision of law that states that only revenue derived from fees and assessments charged for commercial use of public lands and waters and designated for deposit into the endangered species trust fund are to be deposited into the trust fund. By repealing the limitation, the amendment allows revenues from fees and assessments for noncommercial uses of the same public lands and waters to be paid to the benefit of the trust fund.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that this measure will provide access to additional revenue for endangered species protection and multiple opportunities for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to utilize innovative funding mechanisms.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making a technical nonsubstantive amendment for the purpose of style.

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 S.B. No. 1254, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1254, S.D. 1.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair