THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

70

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

 

 

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

 

     Section 1.  The legislature finds that the department of land and natural resources is responsible for managing 1,300,000 acres of state lands, beaches, and coastal areas, which includes ensuring public health and safety at the State's sixteen small boat harbors.  The State's small boat harbors are essential hubs for boating and ocean recreation enthusiasts.  Small boat harbors also serve as hubs for many commercial ocean operations, whose customers largely come from other states and countries to experience Hawaii's world-renowned natural resources and ocean activities.  The state small boat harbor program is under the jurisdiction of the department of land and natural resources' division of boating and ocean recreation.  The department of land and natural resources' division of conservation and resources enforcement is responsible for enforcement of laws and rules for all divisions within the department of land and natural resources.

     For the month of November 2019, the division of conservation and resources enforcement conducted saturation operations during three weekends at the Ala Wai small boat harbor, which resulted in five hundred fifty observed violations, one hundred thirty-five citations, and a number of arrests.  The division also identified illegally moored, abandoned, and derelict vessels for impoundment and seizure.  These saturation operations not only created an increased atmosphere of safety for harbor tenants, staff, and users, but also helped to facilitate removal of vessels posing potential environmental hazards to ocean waters.

     The legislature believes that extending these saturation operations on a long-term basis will help to solidify the increase in safety, environmental protection, and protection of property at the Ala Wai small boat harbor, potentially serving as a basis to further expand saturation operations to develop an ongoing, effective saturation operation program for all sixteen small boat harbors in the State.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for continued pilot test small boat harbor enforcement saturation operations within the Ala Wai and Keehi small boat harbors and development of effective enforcement operations, including the hiring of positions.

     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 2020-2021 to continue to pilot test small boat harbor enforcement saturation operations within the Ala Wai and Keehi small boat harbors and develop effective enforcement operations, which shall be allocated as follows:

     (1)  $           for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) office assistant position;

     (2)  $           for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) conservation and resources enforcement officer position; and

     (3)  $           for overtime costs for enforcement operations and special duty assignments.

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

     SECTION 3.  The department of land and natural resources shall submit a report on the status of saturation enforcement operations, including its findings and recommendations, and any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

 

Report Title:

Department of Land and Natural Resources; DOBOR; DOCARE; Pilot Testing; Enforcement; Small Boat Harbors; Public Safety; Environmental Protection; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to continue small boat harbor saturation enforcement operation pilot testing within the Ala Wai and Keehi small boat harbors and develop effective enforcement for the State's small boat harbors, including the hiring of positions.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (HD1)

 

 

 

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