STAND. COM. REP. NO.  77

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 939

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Water & Land and Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 939 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENFORCEMENT OF VIOLATIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to enhance the ability of the Board of Land and Natural Resources to address natural and cultural resource violations by providing the board with alternative civil enforcement options.

 

     Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Broadens the Board of Land and Natural Resources' ability to impose fines for violations of laws relating to natural and cultural resources and conservation; and

 

     (2)  Authorizes the board, with regard to violators of natural or cultural resource laws, to:

 

          (A)  Impose natural or cultural resource-related community service in lieu of or in addition to administrative fines;

 

          (B)  Suspend or revoke any permit or license issued by the board, or deny applications for the issuance of the permit or license; and

 

          (C)  Direct the counties to deny motor vehicle registration applications.

 

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Committee on Beneficiary Advancement and Empowerment, and Nature Conservancy testified in support of this measure.

 

     Your Committees find that by providing the Board of Land and Natural Resources broader powers to impose fines and apply alternative civil penalties, this measure will allow the board to more flexibly and effectively address violations of laws protecting the State's natural and cultural resources.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 939 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

____________________________ FAYE P. HANOHANO, Chair		____________________________ CINDY EVANS, Chair