Appropriates funds to increase the resources of the department of land and natural resources to prevent and fight wildfires which for the purpose of preventing road closures.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The central and west portions of Maui are linked primarily by Honoapiilani Highway, a solitary two-lane arterial. As a result, incidences along this route that cause a road closure, especially wildfires, severely disrupt traffic flow. When a wildfire causes a road closure along Honoapiilani Highway, intolerable traffic congestion builds up, residents and tourists are isolated from other parts of the island, and other adverse socio-economic impacts ensue. The legislature finds that west Maui lacks the necessary resources to adequately prevent and fight wildfires that threaten the Honoapiilani Highway.

The purpose of this Act is to provide the department of land and natural resources the requisite funds to adequately prevent and fight wildfires that threaten to close Honoapiilani Highway in west Maui.

SECTION 2. 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 2001-2002, for preventing and fighting wildfires that threaten to close the Honoapiilani Highway in west Maui.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.