STAND. COM. REP. NO. 125-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2484

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2484 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE PARKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to purchase necessary equipment for state ocean safety officers to perform their ocean safety and rescue work at state parks.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Emergency Services Department of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services, and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the State does not have lifeguard positions and therefore contracts with the four counties to provide lifeguard services at state beach parks under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks. Your Committee also finds that current funding for these contracts is insufficient. This measure will enable the Division of State Parks to support the counties with necessary funding to purchase essential equipment to ensure public safety and maintain and improve services at state beach parks.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the appropriation amount;

(2) Increasing the amount of equipment to be purchased with the sum appropriated;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2484, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2484, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair