HB796

SECTION 1. In 1989, the legislature passed Act 357, which mandated a study on the carrying capacity of the State to the year 2010. This legislation was passed due to concerns of increased visitor and resident population projections. While the tourist projection of 11.6 million tourists visiting Hawaii in 2010 in Act 357's purpose clause seems high just three years from that date, the resident population projection of 1,400,000 appears fairly close.

What also appears prophetic is the language immediately following those projections. Section 1 of Act 357, Session Laws of Hawaii 1989, further stated that "[b]ecause of the increases in both the visitor and resident populations, the State's infrastructure and social and economic systems will be subject to great strain in a state where very large numbers of people will compete for scarce resources. The State's utilities, land use, zoning, and other systems as well as the cultural, environmental, safety, and other aspects of life in Hawaii may be endangered." Unfortunately, the study mandated by Act 357, Session Laws of Hawaii 1989, was never completed and the moneys appropriated to complete that study have long since lapsed.

Because the concerns of the legislature regarding the carrying capacity of the State back in 1989 are even more valid today, the purpose of this Act is to mandate a study of the carrying capacity of the State to the year 2030.

SECTION 2. The office of planning shall develop general methodology and conduct a limited site-specific study to test the methodology, which may be contracted to a private entity, to determine the State's carrying capacity to the year 2030 in light of current projections of increases in both tourist and resident populations. The study shall take into account the capacities and growth on the neighbor islands. The study may include, but not be limited to:

(1) Infrastructure demand, including utilities, land use,

and zoning;

(2) Social issues;

(3) Economic issues;

(4) Cultural issues;

(5) Environmental issues; and

(6) Safety issues.

SECTION 3. The office of state planning shall submit its findings and recommendations to the legislature at least twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2008.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $150,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the office of planning for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	796
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII