Bill Text: HI SB1526 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 1526 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating To Conservation Enforcement.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-04-25 - Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-26-19 3:00PM in conference room 312. [SB1526 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB1526-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1526
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CONSERVATION ENFORCEMENT.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the department of land and natural resources protects about 1,300,000 acres of public lands in forests, parks, and outdoor recreation areas, and 3,000,000 acres of state ocean waters, coasts, fisheries, and boating areas. The division of conservation and resources enforcement patrols the majority of department of land and natural resources lands and enforces the laws that manage, protect, and conserve Hawaii's natural resources for the 1,400,000 residents and 8,000,000 visitors that utilize these areas annually.

The legislature further finds that the large quantity, high usage, and geographic distribution of Hawaii's public lands and water present the division of conservation and resources enforcement with consistent challenges related to providing effective and timely enforcement activities on a limited budget. The legislature supports the department of land and natural resources and division of conservation and resources enforcement in exploring creative methods to leverage technology and engage local communities to support the conservation of protected areas, including the DLNRTip app, which launched in June 2017.

DLNRTip is a free, smartphone-based application that allows community members to anonymously report violations on public lands to the department of land and natural resources. When submitting a tip, a user includes the subject, location, and any helpful photos or videos of the violation. The DLNRTip app is accessible to anyone and allows user to quickly and anonymously report illegal acts. However, the DLNRTip app suffers from the absence of backend database management and analytics processing. The legislature finds that additional funding is needed to enable database management and analytics processing to address the DLNRTip app's existing weaknesses and enhance the department of land and natural resource's ability to efficiently enforce violations.

The legislature aims to increase rates of reporting information and statistics about criminal activity within the State to the division of conservation and resources enforcement by implementing a comprehensive data reporting and analytics system through the DLNRTip app. A proper data management and processing system will enable the division of conservation and resources enforcement to more efficiently track and monitor crime in specific areas and allocate limited conservation and enforcement resources to high-risk areas. This will reduce crimes such as misuse of state lands, violations of wildlife species conservation and oceanic recreation laws, and other crimes under the department of land and natural resources' jurisdiction.

The purpose of this Act is to enhance the functionality and usefulness of the DLNRTip app by providing funding for a DLNRTip app administrator, software upgrades, and app enhancements.

SECTION 2. 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 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 to be allocated as follows:

(1) $ for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) DLNRTip app administrator position; and

(2) $ for DLNRTip app software upgrades and app enhancements, such as geotagging, two-way messaging, data analysis, and emergency alerts.

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

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2049.

Report Title:

Conservation; Resources Enforcement; DLNRTip App; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for one DLNRTip app administrator position, software upgrades, and app enhancements to improve the DLNRTip app. (SB1526 HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.