STAND. COM. REP. NO. 251

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1257

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 Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1257 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO USE PERMITS FOR SMALL BOAT HARBOR FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish that liveaboard fees for state small boat harbors shall be established by appraisal by a state-licensed appraiser approved by the Department of Land and Natural Resources and shall be set at fair market value; and

(2) Clarify fees charged for vessels used for commercial purposes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Ocean Tourism Coalition. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that liveaboard tenants are the direct beneficiaries of small boat harbor amenities. Currently, all mooring and commercial maritime fees, with the exception of a liveaboard fee, are established by appraisal. Your Committee finds that revising the manner in which a liveaboard fee is determined within a state small boat harbor is necessary to conform to the appraised value method used for other fees. Additionally, an increase in small boat harbor fees would offset the cost of providing additional services such as increased use of utilities, showers and restrooms, security, and other administrative costs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1257, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1257, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair