Report Title:

State Plan; Military Facilities; Active Encouragement

Description:

Clarifies the policy of the State to recognize military presence in Hawaii as an area of important state concern. (SD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2457

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE STATE PLAN.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the United States military has always had a significant presence in Hawaii. Federal expenditures for the maintenance of military facilities and personnel have always been a large part of our local economy. Today, we are seeing massive increased investment into our economy with improvements to Hickam Air Force Base to accommodate eight new C-l7 transport planes, the proposed improvements throughout the state to accommodate the enhanced Stryker Brigade at Schofield Barracks, and the massive military housing projects that are about to begin throughout Hawaii. Hawaii is also under consideration as a home port for a multi-ship aircraft carrier group and air wing.

The military is with us in every way and contributing every day. Whether through the military performing volunteer work in Hawaii's schools, or the infusion of construction dollars, purchases and expenditures by military personnel and their family members in the civilian economy, or the hiring of thousands of civilian employees in a variety of capacities, Hawaii's military has long played and continues to play an essential role in the State's economy. The legislature recognizes that the military's need to not only train appropriately, but to build, maintain, expand, and upgrade facilities, living quarters, and communications, as well as equipment, and the myriad of other components required to sustain major, sophisticated operations, positively impacts our State's economy.

This nation is now undergoing another round of painful military base realignments and closings. More closures are sure to follow. The loss of any of Hawaii's military facilities is detrimental to our economy in a number of ways. Nevertheless, the legislature is under no illusion that the enactment of any state law will, of itself, influence, much less control, any action of the federal government. More significantly, however, the legislature sincerely believes that the military facilities in this state play a critical role in the defensive posture of this nation and deserve retention on their merits alone. The legislature, for its part, seeks to ensure that Hawaii's military facilities can continue to operate in an optimum manner and thereby ensure their survival.

The purpose of this Act is to emphasize that another objective and policy of the state plan is to promote the well-being of federal military installations and investment in the state and to fully support the continual operations of existing installations. SECTION 2. Section 225M-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) The office of planning shall gather, analyze, and provide information to the governor to assist in the overall analysis and formulation of state policies and strategies to provide central direction and cohesion in the allocation of resources and effectuation of state activities and programs[,] and effectively address current or emerging issues and opportunities. More specifically, the office shall engage in the following activities:

(1) State comprehensive planning and program coordination. Formulating and articulating comprehensive statewide goals, objectives, policies, and priorities, and coordinating their implementation through the statewide planning system established in part II of chapter 226;

(2) Strategic planning. Identifying and analyzing significant issues, problems, and opportunities confronting the State, and formulating strategies and alternative courses of action in response to identified problems and opportunities by:

(A) Providing in-depth policy research, analysis, and recommendations on existing or potential areas of critical state concern;

(B) Examining and evaluating the effectiveness of state programs in implementing state policies and priorities;

(C) Monitoring through surveys, environmental scanning, and other techniques--current social, economic, and physical conditions and trends; and

(D) Developing, in collaboration with affected public or private agencies and organizations, implementation plans and schedules and, where appropriate, assisting in the mobilization of resources to meet identified needs;

(3) Planning coordination and cooperation. Facilitating coordinated and cooperative planning and policy development and implementation activities among state agencies[,] and between the state, county, and federal governments, by:

(A) Reviewing, assessing, and coordinating, as necessary, major plans, programs, projects, and regulatory activities existing or proposed by state and county agencies; [and]

(B) Formulating mechanisms to simplify, streamline, or coordinate interagency development and regulatory processes; and

(C) Recognizing the presence of federal defense and security forces and agencies in the State as important state concerns;

(4) Planning information system. Collecting, analyzing, maintaining, and disseminating data and information to further effective state planning, policy analysis and development, and delivery of government services by:

(A) Assembling, organizing, evaluating, and classifying existing data and performing necessary basic research in order to provide a common data base for governmental planning;

(B) Planning, developing, implementing, and coordinating a statewide planning and geographic information system. The office shall be the lead agency responsible for planning and coordinating the establishment of a multi-agency, statewide geographic information system and the development of planning applications, including spatial data analyses to enhance decision making; and

(C) Maintaining a centralized depository of state and national planning references;

(5) Land use planning. Developing and presenting the position of the State in all boundary change petitions and proceedings before the land use commission, assisting state agencies in the development and submittal of petitions for land use district boundary amendments, and conducting periodic reviews of the classification and districting of all lands in the State, as specified in chapter 205;

(6) Coastal and ocean policy management. Carrying out the lead agency responsibilities for the Hawaii coastal zone management program, as specified in chapter 205A. Also, developing and maintaining an ocean and coastal resources information, planning, and management system further developing and coordinating implementation of the ocean resources management plan, and formulating ocean policies with respect to the exclusive economic zone, coral reefs, and national marine sanctuaries;

(7) Regional planning and studies. Conducting plans and studies to determine:

(A) The capability of various regions within the State to support projected increases in both resident populations and visitors;

(B) The potential physical, social, economic, and environmental impact on these regions resulting from increases in both resident populations and visitors;

(C) The maximum annual visitor carrying capacity for the State by region, county, and island; and

(D) The appropriate guidance and management of selected regions and areas of statewide critical concern.

The studies in subparagraphs (A) to (C) shall be conducted at appropriate intervals, but not less than once every five years; and

(8) Regional, national, and international planning. Participating in and [assuring] ensuring that state plans, policies, and objectives are consistent, to the extent practicable, with regional, national, and international planning efforts."

SECTION 3. Section 226-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) To achieve the federal expenditures objective, it shall be the policy of this State to:

(1) Encourage the sustained flow of federal expenditures in Hawaii that generates long-term government civilian employment[.];

(2) Promote Hawaii's supportive role in national defense[.], while remaining consistent with Hawaii's social, environmental, and cultural goals;

(3) Promote the development of federally supported activities in Hawaii that respect [state-wide] statewide economic concerns, are sensitive to community needs, and minimize adverse impacts on Hawaii's environment[.];

(4) Increase opportunities for entry and advancement of Hawaii's people into federal government service[.];

(5) Promote federal use of local commodities, services, and facilities available in Hawaii[.];

(6) Strengthen federal-state-county communication and coordination in all federal activities that affect Hawaii[.]; and

(7) Pursue the return of federally controlled lands in Hawaii that are not required for either the defense of the nation or for other purposes of national importance, and promote the mutually beneficial exchanges of land between federal agencies, the State, and the counties."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.