Bill Text: HI HB664 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Community Conservation Program Pilot Project; Maui

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [HB664 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HB664-Introduced.html

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Report Title:

Community Conservation Program Pilot Project; Maui

 

Description:

Creates a pilot community conservation program within the Maui office of the division of conservation and resource enforcement and appropriates funds.

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	664
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO A PILOT COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PROGRAM.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that within the division of conservation and resource enforcement of the department of land and natural resources, there is a growing need to create meaningful and sustainable partnerships with communities in order to better manage and protect Hawaii's unique and treasured natural resources.

     The legislature finds that this need may be fulfilled through a community conservation program to educate ocean users on resource protection laws.  By doing so, it is anticipated that the number of ocean resource violations may be reduced through education, outreach, increased enforcement presence, and community empowerment.  The legislature believes that by implementing a new operations model, the division will better serve the environmental needs of the people of Hawaii, while protecting the natural resources of our island state.

     The purpose of this Act is to create a pilot community conservation program, utilizing community partnerships, on the east side of the island of Maui.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established in the department of land and natural resources, division of conservation and resource enforcement, Maui district office, a five-year pilot community conservation program to educate ocean users on near-shore and marine resource protection laws.

     (b)  As used in this Act, unless the context requires otherwise:

     "Ahupuaa" means the land division usually extending from the uplands to the sea.

     "Department" means the department of land and natural resources.

     "Makai watch" means a community-based marine management program that educates and empowers local communities to sustainably manage near-shore and marine resources.

     (c)  The pilot community conservation program shall engage in the following activities in the near-shore environment in the areas of Haiku and Kaupo:

     (1)  Training volunteers in resource protection laws and enforcement;

     (2)  Conducting education and outreach to ocean users on near-shore and marine resource enforcement regulations;

     (3)  Coordinating with makai watch communities interested in sustainably managing near-shore and marine resources in their ahupuaa;

     (4)  Enforcing all natural resource laws, subject to the authority of the department of land and natural resources; and

     (5)  Identifying new rules necessary to ensure the long term sustainability of near-shore and marine resources.

     (d)  To carry out the purposes of this Act, the department is authorized to fill up to ten full-time equivalent positions in the Maui district office of the division of conservation and resource enforcement subject to chapter 76 as follows:

     (1)  One conservation resource enforcement officer IV position that shall manage and supervise the community conservation program, supervise conservation resource enforcement officers assigned to the program, and develop the conservation resource enforcement officer program;

     (2)  Two conservation resource enforcement officer III positions that shall be assigned, respectively, to the areas of Haiku and Kaupo.  These positions shall utilize traditional, native Hawaiian boundaries to identify the areas in which they will be serving;

     (3)  One conservation resource enforcement officer IV position that shall assist the branch chief in managing and maintaining operational oversight on all programs under the Maui district office of the division of conservation and resource enforcement;

     (4)  One education specialist position that shall increase public awareness and participation in environmental management efforts through the development and dissemination of educational materials, conduct public surveys, and solicit information through focus groups and public meetings;

     (5)  One accountant III position that shall manage fiscal operations for the Maui district office of the division of conservation and resource enforcement;

     (6)  One research statistician position that shall collect and analyze data on operations and programs of the Maui district office of the division of conservation and resource enforcement and shall use the data to improve operational efficiency and create a proposal for use in the formulation of a five year strategic plan;

     (7)  One clerk typist II position that shall be assigned to the secretary to improve administrative operational efficiency;

     (8)  One clerk typist II position that shall be assigned to the field supervisors; and

     (9)  One mechanic that shall reduce or eliminate outsourcing of repairs of vehicles and other motorized equipment.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 for purposes of the pilot community conservation program established by this Act, including the hiring of necessary staff.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  The department of land and natural resources shall report to the legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of each of the regular sessions of 2011 through 2014 on the progress of the pilot community conservation program project, including the number and type of enforcement actions conducted under this program, number of communities served, number of volunteers trained, recommendations for changes to the program, recommendations regarding proposed legislation, and amounts and means of funding.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2009, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________