Bill Text: HI HB588 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Environmental Conservation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-12-10 - Carried over to 2022 Regular Session. [HB588 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-HB588-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
588 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to environmental conservation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the acquisition of Lipoa point to protect and preserve public access and traditional cultural gathering rights, as well as staving off development, was a monumental landmark achievement in land conservation. The legislature further finds that in order to protect and preserve this area and ensure the public health and safety of this pristine region while community planning is ongoing requires support from the State and county governments as well as private and nonprofit entities. In the past, while appropriations have been made to the department of land and natural resources, the funds were not specifically set aside for management activities. The community has instead relied on private groups to fund essential maintenance activities to make the area a safe place for countless visitors who travel to Maui every year and the many local families who come for surfing, fishing, diving, and other recreational activities.
The legislature also finds that many visitors
use the waters of the adjacent Honolua Bay marine life conservation district. Their support, along with that of the county,
State, and community and nonprofit groups, can create a dedicated fund for the
protection of this asset for the public.
Furthermore, the legislature finds that other states have initiated
contributions from visitors who frequent and use the natural resources of their
natural attractions as a way to continue to beautify and preserve these areas
while educating visitors about the use of the contributions. Most importantly, visitor contributions for
protecting these areas led to the visitor community supporting these critical
activities. The fees, collected while
visitors are using the natural attractions, are applied only for purposes of protecting
these vital natural treasures. By creating
a special fund for a visitor contribution program for individuals frequenting the
Honolua Bay marine life conservation district, along with other private and
government funding, the legislature finds that the department of land and
natural resources can ensure continued access and enjoyment by all while also addressing
the basic health and safety issues for Lipoa point.
The purpose of this Act is to establish the
Lipoa point special management area and a visitor fee to be used for the management
and maintenance of the Lipoa point special management area and to educate visitors
of the stewardship activities being funded by the visitor fees.
SECTION 2. Chapter 171, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§171-A Lipoa point special
management area; visitor fee. (a) The department shall establish the
Lipoa point special management area on the parcel of land acquired by the State
at Lipoa point, identified as TMK 2-4-1-001-010-0000.
(b) The department may impose a visitor fee of $1
to each paying passenger of a maritime commercial vessel engaging in commercial
activity that requires travel through the ocean waters extending three thousand
feet seaward of the territorial sea baseline of the Lipoa point special management
area.
(c) Moneys collected pursuant to this section
shall be deposited into the Lipoa point special management area special fund
established by section 171-B.
(d) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to
chapter 91 to carry out the purposes of this section.
(e) For the purposes of this section, "commercial
activity" means any action or attempted action for compensation in any
form, including but not limited to providing or attempting to provide guide
services, charters, tours, and transportation to and from the location or
locations for which the services are provided.
§171-B
Lipoa point special management area special
fund. (a)
There is established the Lipoa point special management area special fund
into which shall be deposited the following moneys:
(1) Appropriations by
the legislature to the special fund;
(2) Fees collected from
the Lipoa point visitor fee established pursuant to section 171-A;
(3) Grants,
donations, gifts, or other income received for the purposes of the special
fund;
(4) Federal funds; and
(5) Interest earned
or accrued on moneys in the special fund.
(b) Moneys in the fund shall be used to:
(1) Support the
management of the Lipoa
point special management area, including but not limited to operations, maintenance
costs, and providing and maintaining basic hygienic necessities at Honolua Bay;
and
(2) Provide
educational awareness to visitors of the Lipoa point special management area that the stewardship
activities are being funded through the Lipoa point visitor fee and that all moneys
collected in the fund are being used for stewardship of the Lipoa point special management area.
(c) The department shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session on the special fund balance, expenses made from the special fund, and purposes of each expense."
SECTION 3. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Lipoa Point Special Management Area; Visitor Fee; Lipoa Point Special Management Area Special Fund; Honolua Bay; Department of Land and Natural Resources
Description:
Establishes the Lipoa point special management area and a visitor fee to be used for the management and maintenance of the Lipoa point special management area and to educate visitors of the stewardship activities being funded by the visitor fees. Creates the Lipoa point special management area special fund. Requires reports to the legislature.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
