CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 102

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 772

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 772, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the issuance of special number license plates to benefit forest and ocean conservation; and

(2) Increase the initial application and renewal fees for special number license plates from $25 to an unspecified amount.

Your Committee on Conference finds that Hawaii's forests, beaches, and nearshore waters are culturally and naturally unique and vital to maintaining the health and well-being of Hawaii's residents. Providing dedicated funding sources for conservation through the issuance of special number license plates will help to ensure that Hawaii's forests, beaches, and nearshore waters are adequately managed and maintained. Your Committee on Conference notes that the islands of Hawaii are home to many unique ecosystems beyond just beaches and forests and find it appropriate to dedicate funding from the issuance of special number plates to environmental conservation generally instead of specifically to forest and ocean conservation.

Accordingly, your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing "forest conservation" and "ocean conservation" with "environmental conservation" throughout the measure;

(2) Specifying that the special number plate design shall be visually attractive and highlight Hawaii's environment, native species, or both;

(3) Providing that the fundraising fee is to be set by the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

(4) Depositing fees from the issuance of the special number plates into the conservation and resources enforcement special fund, rather than the beach restoration special fund and the forest stewardship special fund;

(5) Setting the initial application and subsequent annual renewal fees for special number plates at $60, beginning January 1, 2022;

(6) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 772, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 772, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair	____________________________ CHRIS LEE Chair
____________________________ PATRICK PIHANA BRANCO Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE Co-Chair