STAND. COM. REP. NO. 131

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 1091
                                        




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.B. No. 1091 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUATIC RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to consolidate various
penalty sections in Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), to establish
minimum fines, and to establish separate and graduated penalties
for chapter 187A, 188, 189, and 190, HRS.

     Testimony in favor of this measure was received from the
Board of Land and Natural Resources.  Testimony in opposition to
this measure was received from Boats/Hawaii Inc.

     Your Committee finds that generally, the same graduated
penalties apply to violations of sections of Chapter 187A, 188,
189, and 190, HRS.  Currently, these violations are punishable as
a petty misdemeanor, except for the use of explosives,
electrocution, or poisons in fishing, which is punishable as a
felony.

     Your Committee finds that currently, the courts in Hawaii
have imposed minimum fines for violation of the natural resource
laws, which has done little to deter violations.

     Your Committee finds that this measure would establish
effective minimum fines and graduated fines for repeat violators
which will deter violation of the natural resource laws.

 
a                                                     SB1091
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 131
                                   Page 2


     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 1091 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 
a                                                     SB1091