STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2617

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2182

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2182 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OCEAN STEWARDSHIP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make the Ocean Stewardship Special Fund permanent.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Resources Legacy Fund, and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Ocean Tourism Coalition and Quicksilver Charters.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources recently promulgated administrative rules to implement the Ocean Stewardship User Fee as required by section 187A-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which requires all commercial ocean operators that are required to have a commercial use permit from the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation to collect a $1 fee from each passenger or customer. All fees are deposited into the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Ocean Stewardship Special Fund to be used for the conservation, restoration, enhancement, and management of marine resources in the State. This measure will allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources to plan for longer-term ocean stewardship projects that require a greater investment of time and resources.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2182 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair