STAND. COM. REP. NO. 575

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 1018

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1018, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules for a lay net permit for the use or possession of lay nets, including reasonable fees and provisions to address noncompliance with lay net rules.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Coral Fish Hawaii/Hawaii Sustainable Reef Fisheries.

Your Committee finds that illegal and irresponsible use of lay nets continues despite the lay net rules implemented by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Your Committee further finds that lay net violations are primarily fishery-related infractions that the Department of Land and Natural Resources could better regulate with a lay net permit system. This measure will help better protect Hawaii's fishery resources and protected species.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1018, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1018, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair