STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3024

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 Ways and Means, 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 permanent the Ocean Stewardship Special Fund.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kuaaina Ulu Auamo, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Ocean Tourism Coalition.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's ocean waters and marine resources are some of the State's most ecologically, economically, and culturally valuable environmental assets. Your Committee further finds that Act 46, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, created the Ocean Stewardship Special Fund to provide a sustainable funding source for the conservation, restoration, enhancement, and management of the State's marine resources. Your Committee finds that making the special fund permanent will ensure that fees paid by ocean users will continue to be used for ongoing conservation efforts.

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 S.B. No. 2182 and recommends that it pass 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