STAND. COM. REP. NO. 196

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 1325

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1325 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require approval by the Game Management Advisory Commission of any new or amended watershed projects or watershed management plans, including those required as a condition of a water rights lease, or of new watershed area designations. This measure also suspends all aerial shooting game management activity by the Department of Land and Natural Resources until the final adoption of administrative rules for watershed management that comply with recommendations of the Commission.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Sportsmen's Alliance, Hawaii Firearms Coalition, Animal Rights Hawai‘i, Hawaii Hunting Association, Hunting Farming and Fishing Association, Waianae Hunting Association, and many individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i, and an individual.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring that the Department of Land and Natural Resources give prior notice to the Commission, rather than obtain its approval, before establishing or amending a watershed management project or watershed management plan or designating a new watershed area;

(2) Clarifying that the prior notice requirement applies to watershed projects or management plans on or for state lands;

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

(4) Making nonsubstantive technical amendments for the purpose of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1325, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1325, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair