STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2059

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2659

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2659 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement for purchasing equipment, funding training, and establishing twenty full-time equivalent positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo, Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea, and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement of the Department of Land and Natural Resources has a broad mandate that includes wildlife protection, resource conservation, boating and fishing enforcement, and maritime patrols. As Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers engage in maritime search and rescue efforts, conduct vessel inspections to detect and deter criminal activity, and investigate and police the harassment and harm of endangered and federally protected species, there is a need to ensure the Division is able to fulfill all aspects of its mandate in all counties.

This measure will appropriate funds to the Division of Conservation and Resources to purchase equipment, fund training, and establish twenty full-time equivalent (20.0 FTE) positions within the Division.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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. 2659, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2659, S.D. 1, 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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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair