STAND. COM. REP. NO. 253

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 502

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 502 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE DIVISION OF CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation to the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement for personnel services, current expenses, equipment, and motor vehicles.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Hunting Association, Kuaaina Ulu Auamo, Humane Society of the United States, and ten individuals.  Your Committee did not receive any testimony in opposition to this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement's budget was significantly cut during the economic recession.  The Division has not yet restored the non-personnel operating funds that are essential to properly train, equip, and protect law enforcement officers.  Consequently, the Division has been unable to fill vacant officer positions due to a lack of ability to fund start-up costs to support enforcement personnel, including in-service training expenses, operating supplies, office furniture, utility expenses, broadband capabilities, and computers and printers.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the lack of sufficient non-personnel operational funding has left the Department unable to safeguard officers and enable them to effectively and efficiently enforce laws and regulations, including through the provision of uniforms, body armor, duty gear, telecommunications, training and travel, mobile and portable radios, laptop computers, miscellaneous equipment, rifles and shotguns, emergency lights and sirens, night vision goggles, and vehicle and vessel fuel, oil, maintenance, and repair.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the vastness of the geography and diversity of the terrain on each island make it very challenging for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to perform its responsibilities and obligations to each island.  Compounding the challenges is the fact that over the years the Department of Land and Natural Resources has acquired thousands of acres of new land and numerous statutory and regulatory responsibilities to police, without a commensurate increase in the size of enforcement abilities.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 502, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 502, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

 

 

 

____________________________

LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair