STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1638

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1505

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1505, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Transportation to restrict vessels that have been reported to have engaged in specific unlawful, unpermitted, or unlicensed activities from entering or departing ports in the State's commercial harbor system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, The Ocean Foundation, and Greenpeace.

Your Committee finds that marine resources are a vital source of income, foreign exchange, employment, and nutrition for the State. However, your Committee further finds that illicit activities on ocean waters, such as illegal extraction and collection of these valuable resources, are increasing. This measure will protect the State's marine resources by providing the Department of Transportation the authority to delay or deny approval for port entry for any vessel that has violated federal, state, or county laws.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective upon approval.

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 S.B. No. 1505, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1505, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair