Appropriates funds for the department of land and natural resources to survey and map all existing public access ways to shoreline areas.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the courts of this State and the legislature have consistently supported and ensured the rights of the public to access the shoreline and inland mountain areas of the State for recreational and cultural purposes. One factor that has led to denial of public access to certain shoreline and inland areas is the proliferation of private communities with gates, guard stations, and private roadways. Another factor that contributes to the lack of public access, especially to beaches, is the lack of parking areas for access to the shoreline.

The legislature believes that a critical step in solving this issue is to definitively locate all existing public access ways to the shorelines throughout the State.

The purpose of this Act is to provide funding to survey and map all existing public access ways to shorelines throughout the State.

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 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to survey and map all existing public access ways to shoreline areas throughout the State.

SECTION 3. The sums 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, 2005.