STAND. COM. REP. NO. 443-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.B. No. 2399

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 2399 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTER-ISLAND FERRY SERVICE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to enhance ferry service between the islands of Maui county by expanding preferential consideration for ferry landings to all small boat harbors within Maui county.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources testified in support of this bill. Lahaina Divers, Trilogy Excursions, EXPEDITIONS, Frogman Charters, and Ocean Tourism Coalition supported the bill with amendments.

Currently, only ferry service between the islands of Maui and the Molokai is afforded preferential consideration for both ferry landings and other commercial purposes, including the issuance of commercial operating permits and the waiver of applicable fees. Your Committees find that allowing preferential consideration to all small boat harbors within the county of Maui increases the possibility of expanding ferry service between all islands in Maui county.

However, your Committees have concerns regarding the application of preferential consideration to commercial purposes other than a ferry service. Accordingly, your Committees have amended this bill by:

(1) Specifying that preferential consideration only be given for ferry landings and not for other commercial purposes; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2399, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2399, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,

 

____________________________

EZRA R. KANOHO, Chair

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair