STAND. COM. REP. NO. 465

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1254

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 S.B. No. 1254 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, which would allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources to seek additional types of revenue for implementation of endangered species protections under chapter 195D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and two individuals.

Your Committees find that, as the endangered species capital of the world, Hawaii needs flexibility in revenue sources to protect Hawaii's iconic species threatened by invasive species, fire, and disease. This measure would allow for additional avenues of revenue to assist the Department of Land and Natural Resources in its efforts to conserve and protect endangered plant and animal species.

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 S.B. No. 1254 and recommend that it pass Second Reading 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