STAND. COM. REP. NO. 576

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1179

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1179, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FUNDING FOR THE DIVISION OF CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate funding for the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Allocates a portion of the conveyance tax revenues to the conservation and resources enforcement special fund; and

(2) Authorizes the conservation and resources enforcement special fund to be used for permanent and temporary staff positions for the conservation and resources enforcement program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement has one of the lowest per-person rates of state funding compared to all other state wildlife agencies. Your Committee further finds that the Division is short-staffed and underfunded. Accordingly, your Committee finds that the Division needs appropriate funding to fulfill its mission, especially in light of the recent reduction of funds allocated to the Division due to the coronavirus 2019 pandemic.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1179, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1179, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair