STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1227-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2156

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2156, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PORT INFRASTRUCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct maintenance dredging at state small boat harbors, boat launch ramp facilities, and other state boating facilities and waterways, including design, permitting, and dredging work, as identified by the Department.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Agribusiness Development Corporation; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Oʻahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association; Malama Charters; Wailoa River and Reeds Bay Boating and Users Association; Captain Kimo's Hawaiian Adventures; and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that maintenance dredging is critical to the maintenance of small boat harbors, channels, ramps, and other port infrastructure in Hawaii. Your Committee recognizes that the current process of waiting until dredging is imminent to appropriate funds and following with the initiation of the permitting process creates a haphazard system for the allocation of funds and the issuance of permits. This disorganized process contributes to deteriorating conditions at these facilities when increased amounts of marine sediment and foreign debris accumulate, sometimes building to a height that, if not cleared immediately, can damage the hulls of ships. This measure will appropriate the necessary funds to assist the Department of Land and Natural Resources in continuing to conduct maintenance dredging projects across the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

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

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 S.B. No. 2156, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2156, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair