Report Title:

State Parks; Transfer to Counties

Description:

Requires DLNR to work with the county park departments to identify state parks that should be transferred to the county and work on a plan to accomplish the transfer; appropriates money to plan to transfer the parks.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1381

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to state parks.

 

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

SECTION 1. Hawaii is a great state to live in, and many of the residents enjoy the excellent year round weather in many of the parks located within the State. However, the legislature finds that some of the state parks are in great need of maintenance and management services. There are some state parks that are maintained and managed well; however, many of the better-maintained parks are maintained and managed by the county in which they are located.

Thus, rather than continue to split park ownership and maintenance between the State and the counties, the legislature finds that the ownership of the state parks should be transferred to the counties in which they are located. This transfer of title will eliminate any duplication of services and would streamline the governmental process.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Require the department of land and natural resources to work with the county parks departments to identify all state parks that should be transferred to the county where it is located, and design a plan to accomplish the transfer;

(2) Appropriate money to design a plan for the transfer of ownership of the identified state parks; and

(3) Require the department of land and natural resources to advise the legislature of the proposed plan to implement the transfer.

SECTION 2. The department of land and natural resources shall work together with each county's parks division to identify the state parks that should be transferred to the county and design a plan to transfer all of the state parks to the county where the park is located. The department shall initiate these proceedings no later than August 1, 2005. Each county is requested to cooperate and participate in this process.

SECTION 3. The department of land and natural resources shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the legislature at least twenty days prior to the convening of the 2006 regular session of the legislature.

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 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for identifying state parks that should be transferred to the county where it is located, and designing a plan to transfer the ownership of the state park, including addressing issues related to funding.

SECTION 5. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.

INTRODUCED BY:

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