STAND. COM. REP. NO. 571

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 664

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 664 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE SMALL BOAT HARBORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to convert all state small boat harbors into independent, privately managed marine parks in accordance with operating agreements to be entered into with the Department of Land and Natural Resources that are based on principles of community-based management.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from Hawaii's Thousand Friends and two individuals, and testimony in opposition from the Board of Land and Natural Resources, HGEA-AFSCME, Local 152, AFL-CIO, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Thomas & Cloudia Charters.

Your Committee finds that there has been three state audit reports since 1993 regarding weaknesses in the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation's ability to function. Your Committee further finds that the boat owners in the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor are the people that have the most interest and the most money invested, to see the marina improved and operated in a businesslike manner, and should therefore have some control over the management of the marina.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the marine park to have a repair and maintenance system using computer technology and a timetable;

(2) Prohibiting the administration from transferring money out of the special fund;

(3) Requiring a special fund financial report of income and expenditures to be provided to the advisory board; and

(4) Requiring that advisory board meetings organized by the Department be recorded.

The purpose of these amendments is to provide more control to the board by requiring more accountability of the Department over various financial activities.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 664, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 664, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

ROD TAM, Chair