Bill Text: HI HB2753 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To The Transfer Of Non-agricultural Park Lands.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-26 - Referred to WAL/AGR, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 3 [HB2753 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB2753-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2753 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF NON-AGRICULTURAL PARK LANDS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature further finds that Act 139, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, established the Act 90 working group to determine the process, status, challenges, and potential remedies regarding the transfer of non-agricultural park lands to fulfill the purposes of Act 90.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Adopt a recommendation from the Act 90 working group that authorizes the department of agriculture, prior to any transfer of certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands, to request from the department of land and natural resources any information related to the establishment of necessary and reasonable easements upon the lands;
(2) Require the department of agriculture to accept the transfer of and manage certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands;
(3) Require the department of agriculture, prior to offering a lease, to inquire with the department of land and natural resources regarding any easements required for access to landlocked forest reserves or other assets on the lands subject to the lease;
(4) Continue to require the lessee to maintain a conservation plan; and
(5) Require approval from the board of land and natural resources and the board of agriculture before removing pasture lands for reforestation, or other public purposes.
SECTION 2. Section 166E-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§166E-1[]]
Legislative findings.
The legislature finds that article XI, section 10, of the [state
constitution] Hawaii State Constitution establishes that "the
public lands shall be used for the development of farm and [homeownership]
home ownership on as widespread a basis as possible, in accordance with
procedures and limitations prescribed by law."
Therefore,
the legislature finds that certain public lands classified for agricultural use,
including all lands designated as intensive agricultural use, special livestock
use, and pasture use under section 171-10(1), (2), and (3), by the
department of land and natural resources should be transferred to the
department of agriculture[, with the approval of the board of land and
natural resources and the board of agriculture,] for purposes and in a
manner consistent with article XI, section 10, of the [state constitution.]
Hawaii State Constitution.
The purpose of this chapter is to ensure the long-term productive use of public lands leased or available to be leased by the department of land and natural resources for agricultural purposes, including pasture use, by allowing these lands to be transferred to and managed by the department of agriculture."
SECTION 3. Section 166E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§166E-3 Transfer and management
of non-agricultural park lands and related facilities to the department of
agriculture. (a) Upon [mutual agreement and] approval of
the board [and the board of land and natural resources]:
(1) The
department [may] shall accept the transfer of and manage certain
qualifying non-agricultural park lands[;], subject to the suitability
of the land for agricultural activities and use as determined by the board;
and
(2) Certain
assets, including position counts, related to the management of existing
encumbered and unencumbered non-agricultural park lands and related facilities
shall be transferred to the department[.];
provided that designated conservation lands not in current agricultural use shall remain under the jurisdiction of the department of land and natural resources.
(b)
The department shall administer a program to manage the transferred
non-agricultural park lands under rules adopted by the board pursuant to
chapter 91. The program and its rules
shall be separate and distinct from the agricultural park program and its
rules. Non-agricultural park lands are
not the same as, and shall not be selected or managed as [are], lands
under agricultural park leases. Prior to
offering a lease, the department shall inquire with the department of land and
natural resources regarding any easements required by the department of land
and natural resources to access landlocked forest reserves or other assets of
the department of land and natural resources on the lands subject to the lease. A lease issued under this section shall be
subject to any easement or right of entry established to landlocked forest
reserves to allow access for conservation activities, hunting, gathering, and
recreation. The lessee shall cooperate
with the rules and regulations of the appropriate soil and water conservation
district and department in implementing conservation programs and
initiatives. Lessees shall at all times
practice good husbandry. If conservation
resources in need of preservation or protection are identified by the
department on the lands subject to the lease, the lessee shall develop a
conservation program and a plan to address those concerns. The conservation program shall be run in
accordance with a conservation plan, which shall be submitted to the
chairperson of the board for acceptance within one year following lease
commencement. The conservation plan
shall include land clearing practices, cropping systems, irrigation systems,
drainage, noxious weed control, and other practices and systems needed to
protect the land against deterioration and to prevent environmental
degradation; provided that this requirement shall be waived for leases with
little or no apparent conservation problems when verified by the appropriate
soil and water conservation district. In
the event the activities of the lessee under this section shall be found to be
unsatisfactory to the terms of the lease, the department shall notify the
lessee and the lessee shall remedy any issue and submit satisfactory proof to
the department within sixty days of receiving notice from the department. Notwithstanding any other law to the
contrary, the program shall include the following conditions pertaining to
encumbered non-agricultural park lands:
(1) The lessee or permittee shall perform in full compliance with the existing lease or permit;
(2) The lessee or permittee shall not be in arrears in the payment of taxes, rents, or other obligations owed to the State or any county;
(3) The lessee's or permittee's agricultural operation shall be economically viable as specified by the board; and
(4) No encumbered or unencumbered non-agricultural park lands with soils classified by the land study bureau's detailed land classification as overall (master) productivity rating class A or B shall be transferred for the use or development of golf courses, golf driving ranges, and country clubs.
The transfer of non-agricultural park lands shall be done in a manner to be determined by the board of agriculture.
(c) For any encumbered or unencumbered non-agricultural park lands transferred to the department that are not being utilized or required for the public purpose stated, the order setting aside the lands shall be withdrawn and the lands shall be returned to the department of land and natural resources.
(d) Before any transfer of certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands, the department may request from the department of land and natural resources any information related to the establishment of necessary and reasonable easements upon the lands.
(e)
The department of land and natural resources shall seek approval from
the board of land and natural resources and the board prior to the removal of
any land designated for pasture leases for reforestation or other public
purposes. If withdrawal is approved by both boards, adequate notice
of not less than one year shall be provided to the then‑current lessee or
permittee.
(f) Removal of any land pursuant to subsection (e) shall be subject to the prior approval by the board of land and natural resources of a feasible and funded action plan submitted by the division of forestry and wildlife for reforestation or other conservation purposes on current pasture lease lands."
SECTION 4. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
DOA; DLNR; Non-Agricultural Park Lands; Transfer; Easements
Description:
Before the transfer of non-agricultural park lands, authorizes the Department of Agriculture to request information from the Department of Land and Natural Resources related to the establishment of necessary and reasonable easements upon the lands. Amends legislative findings regarding non-agricultural park lands. Requires the Department of Agriculture to accept the transfer of and manage certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Requires the Department of Agriculture, prior to offering a lease, to inquire with the Department of Land and Natural Resources regarding any easements required for access to landlocked forest reserves or other assets on the lands subject to the lease. Continue to require the lessee to maintain a conservation plan. Requires approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Board of Agriculture before removing pasture lands for reforestation, or other public purposes.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
