STAND. COM. REP. NO. 208

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 615

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. 615 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the purchase of heavy equipment to maintain public lands on Kauai.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Fire Council, Hawai‘i Fire Department of the County of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i Fire Department, Hanalei Watershed Hui, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that maintenance of public lands on Kauai requires the use of heavy equipment, including dump trucks, excavators, water tenders, and bull dozers. Proper maintenance of such lands is necessary to ensure access by the public, as well as emergency response. A lack of functioning heavy equipment inhibits ongoing maintenance of public lands and response to emergency needs. Therefore, your Committee finds it proper for the Legislature to appropriate funds for heavy equipment to maintain public lands on Kauai.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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. 615, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 615, 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,

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KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair