STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2435

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2912

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2912 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OCEAN RECREATION COMMERCIAL PERMITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Department of Land and Natural Resources to issue new ocean recreation commercial permits by public auction.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Ocean Tourism Coalition, Trilogy Corporation, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources currently maintains waitlists for the issuance of commercial permits when there is a limit on the number of permits that can be used for a particular area or activity. Over the past several decades, the number of commercial operators requesting to operate in the state waters has increased significantly. This measure would allow for new ocean recreation commercial permits to be issued through public auction, which your Committee finds is the fairest way to issue the limited number of commercial permits.

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. 2912 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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