STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1276

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.C.R. No. 68

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 68 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DIVISION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES AND DIVISION OF CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT TO COLLABORATE WITH FEDERAL PARTNER AGENCIES TO PROTECT IMPORTANT STATE MARINE RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the state agencies responsible for setting and enforcing the State's marine conservation policies strengthen the requirements for protection of the State's indigenous marine wildlife, particularly spinner dolphins, other marine mammals, and sea turtles, including through collaboration with federal partner agencies and pursuit of federal and private grant funding sources.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, R.T. Distributors, Inc., and two individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  One individual submitted comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 68 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair