STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3476

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1919

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1919, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE BOATING FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the state boating facility lease pilot program.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to lease certain fast lands and submerged lands for, among other things, maintenance by a private entity;

(2) Repeals certain statutory provisions relating to the leasing of fast lands and submerged lands of the Ala Wai Boat Harbor; and

(3) Establishes a state boating facility lease pilot program to lease one state small boat harbor in its entirety for private development, management, maintenance, and operation, subject to certain conditions,

until June 30, 2044.

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

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Albatross News; Explore Kauai Scuba, LLC; Free Access Coalition; Hawaii Government Employees Association; Kamaaina Boaters; Malama Moana; Surfrider Oahu; UNITE HERE Local 5; United Public Workers; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and one individual.

Your Committee finds that allowing the Board of Land and Natural Resources to lease one small boat harbor and associated submerged lands in the State will help to enable private entities to make much-needed improvements to the State's small boat harbor facilities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Codifying in statute, rather than session law, certain provisions of this measure establishing the state boating facility lease pilot program;

(2) Renaming the state boating facility lease pilot program as the state boating facility lease program;

(3) Clarifying that no lease entered into under the state boating facility lease program shall be for a period ending after June 30, 2044;

(4) Clarifying the selection procedure for the small boat harbor to be leased under the state boating facility lease program;

(5) Inserting an appropriation of $440,000 out of the boating special fund for the establishment of four full‑time equivalent (4.0 FTE) boating and ocean recreation harbor agent VI positions; and

(6) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1919, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1919, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair