STAND. COM. REP. NO.245

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 216

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 216 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATERCRAFT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require all vessels operating in and beyond state waters to have on board a properly functioning Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon ("EPIRB").

Your Committees received testimony in favor of this measure from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and an individual. Your Committees received comments on the measure from Hawaii Ocean Safety Team.

Your Committees find that an EPIRB can significantly reduce the time and effort required to successfully complete a search and rescue mission. Many of the boating fatalities that have occurred over the last several years could have been avoided if an EPIRB had been carried on board the vessel. The Department of Land and Natural Resources has strongly recommended that all recreational boaters and subsistence fishers carry an EPIRB when operating in State waters.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Economic Development and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 216 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Economic Development and Technology,

____________________________

ROD TAM, Chair

____________________________

CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair