STAND. COM. REP. NO.  754-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.B. No. 709

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 709, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OCEAN RESOURCES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure greater protection of the State's ocean resources by:

 

     (1)  Establishing a task force to assist the Department of Land and Natural Resources in developing rules applicable to all coastal areas and nearshore waters and submit regular reports to the Legislature;

 

     (2)  Prohibiting the Department of Land and Natural Resources from implementing rules relating to the coastal areas and nearshore waters of Niihau before the task force submits its final report; and

 

     (3)  Appropriating funds for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct public outreach meetings related to the development of rules applicable to all coastal areas and nearshore waters.

 

     Fishing Tales with Mike Sakamoto and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Aha Moku Advisory Committee testified in opposition to this measure.

 

     Your Committee notes that discussion was raised on the potential importance of adding a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner to the task force.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 709, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair