HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2308

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT OFFICE.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the quality of the environment is as important to the welfare of the people of Hawaii as is the economy of the State.  The legislature finds that there is increasing demand for the collection and dissemination of state environmental data to the public, to the regulated and permitted community, and to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  The legislature also finds that the development of specialized environmental information management systems can greatly assist the department of health's environmental health administration to provide timely and comprehensive environmental information to the public, increase efficiency, and make more informed decisions to better protect the environment.  The legislature finds that an environmental information management office needs to be established to more efficiently and effectively collect and disseminate environmental data.  This in turn will greatly assist the environmental programs to make better decisions through the development of enhanced software programs.  In order to maintain current successful software systems, as well as continue to develop new ones, the legislature finds that the environmental information management office should be created in the department of health.

     SECTION 2.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"CHAPTER

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT OFFICE

     §   -1  Definitions.  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

     "Director" means the director of health.

     "Manager" means the manager of the environmental information management office. 

     "Office" means the environmental information management office established in section    -2.

     §   -2  Environmental information management office; establishment.  There is established an environmental information management office that shall be headed by a single executive to be known as the manager of environmental information management who shall be appointed by the director without regard to chapter 76.  The manager may hire staff, as may be necessary, without regard to chapter 76.  The office shall implement this chapter and shall be placed within the department of health.  The office shall perform its duties under this chapter and shall serve the director in an advisory capacity on all matters relating to environmental information management. 

     §   -3  Duties.  The office shall:

     (1)  Promote the use of environmental information systems and new management innovations such as mobile applications that enable efficient and non-duplicative collection and dissemination of environmental data for the department environmental programs, the department, the state, and the public;

     (2)  Provide effective project management to design, develop, and implement useful and relevant environmental information management systems;

     (3)  Develop and implement environmental information management policy, in accordance with policy set by the office of information management and technology, the department, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency for environmental health programs within the department;

     (4)  Seek partnerships and funding opportunities with outside entities to develop and collaborate on new environmental information management systems and to enhance current environmental information management systems; and

     (5)  Promote the federal impetus for environmental programs to reduce the burden of regulatory reporting processes, increase efficiencies in data reporting and accessibility, and facilitate effective coordination of environmental regulatory data functions."

     SECTION 3.  This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

BY REQUEST


 


 

Report Title:

Environmental Information Management Office

 

Description:

Establishes an Office of Environmental Information Management within the Department of Health.  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.