STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1315

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.R. No. 73
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was
referred S.R. No. 73 entitled:

     "SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK
     FORCE TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A COORDINATED PUBLIC AND
     PRIVATE SECTOR ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:
     
     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of
Land and Natural Resources, with assistance from the private
sector, the military, and other concerned organizations to form
a task force to facilitate and create artificial near-shore
habitats where appropriate, and to create an adopt-a-reef
program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  The Department of Land and
Natural Resources submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii is home to eighty-five
percent of our nation's total reef habitat, and Hawaii's
nearshore areas are a critical natural resource for the
community.  For many reasons, these nearshore areas are in
decline, and a coordinated effort is necessary in order to
reverse the decline and restore fish populations.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to add
representatives to the task force from the native Hawaiian
fishing communities and the environmental communities, and to add

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1315
                                   Page 2


the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives to those receiving a certified copy of this
Resolution.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of
S.R. No. 73, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached
hereto as S.R. No. 73, S.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Economic
                                   Development,



                                   ______________________________
                                   LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 
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