Report Title:

Special Environmental Preservation

 

Description:

Authorizes the department of land and natural resources to develop, or contract with private entities to produce, environmentally-themed products to be commercially sold to the public to increase revenues in the endangered species trust fund. (CD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3063

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 2


C.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 natural physical environment of Hawaii is of significant value to the people of our State, and that a means to support the environment would be worthy of state support.

The legislature further finds that during the past decade, funding to preserve and protect the environment has dropped dramatically, and that a permanent independent source of funding to increase funding would support protection efforts and education programs relating to the environment. The legislature further finds that other states have utilized license plate sales, collectible stamps, and credit cards with great success as a way to raise money to protect the environment.

The purpose of this Act is to reaffirm the State's commitment to the protection of Hawaii’s environment by creating long-term supplemental funding sources generated from the voluntary purchase and use of collectible stamps, credit cards, and other programs as may be authorized under this Act.

SECTION 2. Chapter 195, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§195-    Products to support the environment. (a) There is established within the department a program to financially benefit the environment by the development of environmentally-themed products such as collectible stamps, credit cards, and coins to be commercially sold to the public. The department may enter into contracts with private entities for the production of existing and new environmentally-themed products as the department deems appropriate.

(b) Each product developed under this program shall require the approval of the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources and the governor, after consultation with appropriate environmental organizations.

(c) Except for direct costs to administer, produce, and market the products, all revenues from the sale of products under this section shall be paid into the endangered species trust fund established pursuant to section 195D-31 to support programs of the department that:

(1) Benefit the environment; and

(2) Are related to the environmental theme of the product sold.

(d) The department shall submit an annual report of the program's products, costs, and revenues to the legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of each regular session."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.