HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2622

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to marine RESOURCES.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the marine life conservation program embodied in chapter 190, Hawaii Revised Statutes, has preserved some of the State's most ecologically, economically, and scientifically valuable environmental assets.  The broad range of documented anthropogenic impacts on coral reef health, including impacts from groundings, diving activities, poaching, anchoring and mooring, land and water-based pollutant discharges, and other direct and indirect uses of the State’s coral reefs, indicate that the department of land and natural resources may need a more consistent and reliable source of funding to maintain these unique areas and to conserve and protect coral reef resources throughout the State.

     The purpose of this Act is to provide for a special fund allowing for the collection and use of moneys for the conservation, supplementation, and enhancement of the State’s coral reefs and other marine resources.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 190, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§190-     Coral reef and marine life conservation special fund; established.  (a)  There is hereby established in the state treasury a special fund to be known as the coral reef and marine life conservation special fund, which shall be administered by the department of land and natural resources.

     (b)  The following shall be deposited into the coral reef and marine life conservation special fund:

     (1)  Moneys collected as fines, attorneys fees, awards, settlements, and administrative costs for violations of this chapter, or any rule adopted hereunder;

     (2)  Moneys collected for the purposes of compensatory mitigation from federal or state permitted impacts to the marine environment; and

     (3)  Grants, awards, donations, gifts, transfers, and moneys derived from private or public services for the purposes of this chapter.

     (c)  Subject to subsection (d), the coral reef and marine life conservation special fund shall be used for expenditures to:

     (1)  Fulfill the purposes of this chapter, including marine life conservation district monitoring, research, regulatory measures, enforcement actions, educational activities, or any other measure intended to conserve, supplement, and enhance the resources within any marine life conservation district established under this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter;

     (2)  Provide management, monitoring, and support for public fishing areas, community-based subsistence fishing areas, fisheries management areas, and other areas of localized management;

     (3)  Develop and carry out any compensatory mitigation measures for impacts to the marine environment, including impacts to the marine environment from federal or state permitted actions, or violations of this chapter or any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter; and

     (4)  Develop and carry out research projects, educational programs, management initiatives, and any other activity intended to conserve, supplement, and enhance the marine environment throughout the State.

     (d)  The coral reef and marine life conservation special fund shall be held separate and apart from all other moneys, funds, and accounts of the department of land and natural resources; provided that any moneys received from the federal government, through federal programs, or from private contributions shall be deposited and accounted for in accordance with conditions established by the agency or entity from which the moneys are received.

Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the next fiscal year."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Coral Reef And Marine Life Conservation Program Special Fund

 

Description:

Establishes a special fund for the marine life conservation program within the department of land and natural resources.  Effective July 1, 2014.

 

 

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