Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Archaeology Graduate Program; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes an applied archaeology graduate program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa; makes appropriation.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

3238

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO APPLIED ARCHaEOLOGY.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that historic preservation in Hawaii is presently in a condition of unprecedented confusion and disarray, making it nearly impossible for the State to meet its cultural obligations and legislative mandates to manage historical properties for the benefit of the various descendent communities.  The discovery, identification, and preservation of archaeological sites, human burial sites, and other historic properties are increasingly threatened. 

     The recent acceleration of economic development, which often requires cultural resource management, shows no signs of abating in the foreseeable future.  The legislature further finds that with careful planning and open lines of communication among archaeologists, developers, descendent communities, and state officials, few properties and sites would be disturbed.  When disturbance does occur, response must be in a culturally sensitive and productive fashion.

     The legislature further finds that exacerbating the historic preservation crisis is the severe shortage of historic preservation professionals, particularly credentialed archaeologists.  Protecting the State's cultural and historic heritage requires the development of systematic and long-term plans to train the next generation of archaeologists with solid professional skills, ethical standards, and cultural knowledge.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a master of arts graduate program in applied archaeology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, with the intent of reaching students and professionals on the neighbor island campuses as well.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV, subpart M, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§304A‑    Applied archaeology program; established.  (a)  There is established at the University of Hawaii at Manoa a graduate program, under the department of anthropology, in applied archaeology that offers a master of arts degree to qualified candidates upon completion of the program.

     (b)  Enrollment in the applied archaeology graduate program shall be limited students who work or intend to work immediately upon graduation in Hawaii's public and private sectors in cultural resource management archaeology or other historic preservation fields.

     (c)  The curriculum of the applied archaeology graduate program, among other courses as determined by the department of anthropology, shall teach and train students historic preservation archaeology, including but not limited to the:

     (1)  Academic and technical aspects of archaeology;

     (2)  Practical training necessary to become competent public and private sector archaeologists in cultural resource management and historic preservation;

     (3)  Legal and regulatory contexts of cultural resource management archaeology;

     (4)  Methods of conducting field studies of archaeological sites and other historic properties; and

     (5)  Analysis and preparation of written reports pursuant to cultural resource management studies that may be required by law.

     (d)  Students awarded a master of arts degree in the applied archaeology graduate program shall possess national level competencies needed to staff the various private cultural resource management firms and government agencies that employ cultural resource management archaeologists and other historic preservation professionals.

     (e)  The University of Hawaii at Manoa shall establish a full-time equivalent non-tenure tract position for archaeologist-in-residence; full-time equivalent tenure tract position for a Pacific archaeologist; four graduate internships per year in applied archaeology; and one program coordinator for the master of arts in applied archaeology.

     (f)  The University of Hawaii at Manoa shall develop a plan to establish course offerings through the applied archaeological program at campuses on the neighbor islands."

     SECTION 3.  In conjunction with the applied archaeological program, the state historic preservation division shall plan, conduct, and otherwise sponsor two community workshops in 2008‑2009 to:

     (1)  Revive the 2006 state historic preservation division's archaeological working group, compile and amend its recommendations, and complete it report; provided that the working group shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009 on the outcomes as contained in the report;

     (2)  Expand the membership of the working group to include a broader cross-section of the State's historic preservation community, for example, Kamehameha Schools, the office of Hawaiian affairs, archaeologists from private cultural resource management firms, and archaeologists and historic preservation officials of state, county, and federal agencies; and

     (3)  Identify professional development and certification requirements that should be established for personnel of the state historic preservation division and contractors of the division; and

     (4)  Identify possible training and educational opportunities to be offered to burial council members to assist them in performing their duties.

     SECTION 4.  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 2008-2009 for the applied archaeology program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University o f Hawaii at Manoa for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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