STAND. COM. REP. NO. 301

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 506

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 506 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONSERVATION ENFORCEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Oahu branch of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea; Hawai‘i Ocean Legislative Task Force; Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo; and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that one of the most effective ways to help the State's coral reefs withstand and recover from present and future threats, such as warmer ocean temperatures, pollution, and ocean acidification, is to ensure healthy populations of herbivorous fishes. Your Committee further finds that although the Board of Land and Natural Resources adopted statewide herbivore fishing rules in December 2023, enforcement of these rules is particularly difficult on the island of Oahu due to a variety of factors, including greater fishing intensity, diversion of conservation and resources enforcement officers, and nighttime poaching activities. Your Committee believes that providing funding for additional resources will allow the Oahu branch of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement to better protect the State's herbivorous fish populations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation and allocations to unspecified amounts;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $4,974,040 to be allocated as follows:

(1) $800,000 for two maritime enforcement patrol vessels, complete with audible/visual emergency equipment;

(2) $50,000 for two patrol watercrafts, complete with audible/visual emergency equipment;

(3) $50,000 for shipment costs for the items in paragraphs (1) and (2);

(4) $3,040,000 for thirty-two police marked patrol vehicles, complete with audible/visual emergency equipment;

(5) $206,000 for two towing vehicles for patrol vessels, complete with audible/visual emergency equipment;

(6) $10,000 for extended warranties for the two vehicles in paragraph (5);

(7) $14,000 for one floating drive-on dock;

(8) $1,800 for six personal flotation devices;

(9) $36,000 for six sets of SCUBA gear, including full equipment and training and certifications;

(10) $224,000 for thirty-two portable radios;

(11) $5,000 for one base station/repeater;

(12) $128,000 for thirty-two night-vision devices;

(13) $128,000 for thirty-two drones;

(14) $5,600 for thirty-two remote pilot certificates for the drones in paragraph (13);

(15) $215,640 per year for six mobile surveillance trailers;

(16) $48,000 for six quick-deploy license plate recognition camera systems; and

(17) $12,000 for installation costs for the items in paragraph (16).

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 506, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 506, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair