RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the people of Hawaii have declared through their State Constitution their intention that "the State and its political subdivisions shall conserve and protect Hawaii's natural beauty and all natural resources including land, water, air, minerals and energy sources"; and

WHEREAS, the people have further declared through their State Constitution that "all public natural resources are held in trust by the State for the benefit of the people"; and

WHEREAS, this constitutional trust responsibility has been assigned with no end date, which implies a trust responsibility in perpetuity; and

WHEREAS, the management of this trust responsibility over Hawaii's natural resources has been vested by the Legislature primarily in the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) and the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR); and

WHEREAS, audits over the past two decades conducted by the State Auditor (Auditor) have focused on programs, finances, and organizational units of DLNR and have revealed weaknesses in the management of DLNR's responsibilities over the natural resources; and

WHEREAS, years of continuing budgetary restrictions and personnel reductions imposed by both executive and legislative actions have significantly affected DLNR's ability to fulfill its responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, there is a growing concern that recent managerial vacancies and the large number of vacant operating positions and chronic lack of funding may accelerate an irreparable and irretrievable loss of public trust resources; and

WHEREAS, there has never been a department-wide management audit of DLNR to review systemic policies and procedures between BLNR, DLNR, and the missions and operations within and between divisions, as well as between islands; and

WHEREAS, it is evident to the Legislature that persistent underlying issues facing DLNR will only improve with in-depth analysis coupled with solution-oriented actions, and that the Auditor must go beyond an ordinary management audit to one that addresses the long-term mission of DLNR and its ability to sustain the resources entrusted to them; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct an audit of DLNR that addresses, at a minimum, the following:

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, to satisfy legislative intent, the Auditor include positive findings in its report including, but not limited to, efforts which are being systematically exerted within DLNR to address areas requiring improvement, as well as the degree of positive compliance with significant policies and practices; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that other agencies, conservation experts, and stakeholders of the state are requested to cooperate with the Auditor, especially agencies, organizations, and individuals that may be able to provide long-term perspectives on the sustainability of the state's limited resources; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature at least 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor, the Governor, Board of Land and Natural Resources, and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Report Title:

Department of Land and Natural Resources; Audit