STAND. COM. REP. NO. 477

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 153

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 153, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that all violators of the State Water Code are held accountable for their violations by:

(1) Creating a minimum penalty of $50 and increasing the maximum penalty to $25,000 for every violation; and

(2) Appropriating funds for two positions within the Commission on Water Resource Management.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that this measure will better enable the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Commission on Water Resource Management to protect the precious water resources of Hawaii by amending and clarifying the penalty structure for violators of the State Water Code. Your Committee further finds that the positions appropriated for by this measure will help the Commission on Water Resource Management ensure compliance with and enforcement of State Water Code penalties.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 153, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair