STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1464

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 1371

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1371, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAY NETS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make possession or use of a lay net for the purpose of taking aquatic life without a permit issued by the Department of Land and Natural Resources a misdemeanor offense.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, The Friends of Hanauma Bay, and a few individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from an individual. Your Committee received testimony with comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Prohibiting the abandonment, instead of the possession or use, of a lay net, subject to the existing petty misdemeanor penalty applicable to violations of fishing regulations;

(2) Inserting new language requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish a comprehensive, statewide lay net education and enforcement program;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1371, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1371, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair