STAND. COM. REP. NO. 564

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 1020

H.D. 1

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. 1020, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADAPTIVE NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Board of Land and Natural Resources to temporarily adopt, amend, and repeal certain natural resource rules by formal board action at a publicly noticed meeting if the Board finds that the adoption, amendment, or repeal is necessary to implement effective and adaptive management measures in response to rapidly changing resource conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources needs the flexibility to quickly and efficiently implement adaptive management measures that are informed by the best available scientific information. Although the existing administrative rule-making process serves the important function of providing opportunity for public review and input, it is not designed for the rapid implementation of adaptive management measures in response to changing resource conditions. Your Committee further finds that this measure would provide the Department with an additional tool to swiftly implement certain temporary adaptive management measures while also providing the opportunity for public review and input.

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. 1020, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair