STAND. COM. REP. NO.381
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2003
RE: S.B. No. 39
S.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2003
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Economic Development and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 39 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PARKS,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to convene an advisory task force to develop an action plan for the transfer of all state parks to the counties.
Your Committees received testimony supporting the intent of this measure from Na Leo Pohai and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO, who both suggested amendments. The Board of Land and Natural Resources offered support of this measure if the task force develops a plan to transfer only selected state parks. The Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation submitted testimony opposing this measure.
Your Committees find that state and county parks, although a prized resource, are not maintained effectively or efficiently. Neither the State or the counties have the available resources or administrative framework to effectively manage the parks under their jurisdiction. Your Committees believe that a revamping of parks management in Hawaii is necessary to ensure their preservation for enjoyment by all. Upon review of this measure, your Committees acknowledge that developing plans for the immediate transfer of state parks to the counties may be premature. Therefore, your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Modifying the duties and functions of the advisory task force to include determining the feasibility of transferring state parks to the counties and identifying the total amount of funding needed to improve parks maintenance at both state and county levels;
(2) Deleting language that required the advisory task force to make recommendations regarding the enactment of county ordinances necessary to effectuate the transfer;
(3) Adding to the membership of the advisory task force four park users from each county appointed by their respective mayors;
(4) Deleting language that appointed the legislative chairs of the standing committees having jurisdiction over intergovernmental affairs to the advisory task force, and requiring the presiding officer of each legislative chamber to nominate a representative to the task force; and
(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of style, clarity, and consistency.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 39, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 39, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations,
____________________________ CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair |
____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair |
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