STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1670

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 86

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Water and Land and Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 86, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONSIDER DEVELOPING PERMITTING PROVISIONS TO REQUIRE THAT EMPLOYEES OF WATERSPORT EXCURSION COMPANIES WHO TAKE CUSTOMERS ON WATERSPORT EXCURSIONS ARE TRAINED IN BASIC SAFETY MEASURES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to engage stakeholders to consider adopting permitting provisions requiring employees of watersport excursion companies who take customers on watersport excursions to be trained in basic water safety measures.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Watersport excursion companies are commercial operations that take customers on excursions for the purpose of engaging in watersports, such as kayaking, snorkeling, surfing and stand-up paddle lessons, and scuba diving.  Watersport excursion companies, as well as other commercial recreational operations, are required to obtain a permit from the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committees find that potential safety issues are raised when taking consumers on watersport excursions without personnel present who are able to render aid if an emergency occurs, such as training in first aid and cardio pulmonary resuscitation.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by clarifying that the requirements in first aid and cardio pulmonary resuscitation may not exceed licensure standards adopted by industry associations, such as those adopted by the scuba industry.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Economic Development and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 86, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 86, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Economic Development and Technology,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair