STAND. COM. REP. NO. 478-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2478

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2478, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PACIFIC MARINE FISHERIES COMPACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Governor to execute a compact on behalf of the State to cooperate in the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.

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

Your Committee finds that the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is an interstate compact agency that helps resource agencies and the fishing industry sustainably manage valuable Pacific Ocean resources. Although the Commission has no regulatory or management authority, it serves a number of vital functions such as providing a forum for the discussion of interstate fisheries resources management; coordinating research and management projects related to interstate fisheries and making this data available to the public; and dispersing federal fishery disaster funds. Your Committee believes that Hawaii could benefit greatly from joining Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington as a member state to the compact.

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. 2478, 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