STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1479-24
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2024
RE: H.C.R. No. 50
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 50 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES' DIVISION OF BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the operations and management of the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.
Your Committee finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (Division) manages the State's small boat harbors, mooring and boating facilities, and statewide ocean recreation programs. The Division's responsibilities include enforcing laws and rules pertaining to boating safety and regulation of commercial activities and overseeing permits for ocean recreation events.
Your Committee further finds that in recent years, community members have expressed numerous concerns about the Division, particularly its lack of effective communication with the boating community, an inconsistent approach to interpreting and enforcing administrative rules, repeated and prolific complaints across the State about Division management, and ongoing employee misconduct complaints and ethics violations. Your Committee notes that the office of the Auditor previously conducted a management audit and issued in April 2001 Report No. 01-09, "Audit of the Management of State Boating Facilities by the Department of Land and Natural Resources", which found that mismanagement of state boating facilities has been a recurring problem and recommended that the Division develop strategic plans to address these ongoing issues with the boating program. Your Committee believes that a performance audit conducted by the Auditor on the current operations and management of the Division is warranted, based on the public's and the Auditor's long-standing concerns.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 50 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,
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____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair |
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