SB669

SECTION 1. Chapter 184, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§184- Permits for weddings in state parks. (a) The department shall issue permits to companies engaged in the business of providing wedding services to allow the companies to conduct weddings in state parks.

(b) Permits issued pursuant to this section shall be limited to companies providing wedding services for wedding parties containing fewer than twenty-five persons. Wedding services support personnel shall not be included in the twenty-five person limit. For purposes of this section, "wedding services support personnel" includes photographers, videographers, wedding coordinators, and wedding officiants.

(c) Applications for a permit shall be submitted to the department no less than forty-five days before the initial date of use being requested and shall specify the park area being requested for use.

(d) The application fee for the permit shall be $400.

(e) A permit issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance.

(f) The department may restrict the number of yearly permits issued for specific park areas.

(g) The department may deny the issuance of a permit when:

(1) The maximum number of permits, as set by the department, for the same park area applied for has already been granted;

(2) The wedding service presents a clear and present danger to public health or safety;

(3) The wedding service in the particular park area applied for:

(A) Is of a nature or duration that cannot reasonably be accommodated;

(B) Will significantly interfere or conflict with the public's general use and enjoyment; or

(4) The application or request for a permit is not received by the department within the times specified in subsection (c).

(h) A permit issued pursuant to this section may contain conditions relating to the protection and use of the park area for the purposes for which it is maintained, reasonable limitations on the time and area within which the wedding service is permitted, and any requirements for liability insurance coverage.

(i) A permit issued pursuant to this section shall cover all wedding services support personnel associated with the company to which the permit is issued.

(j) A company issued a permit pursuant to this section, for the purposes of conducting wedding services, may use props; provided that all props are set up no more than one hour before the wedding service and are removed from the state park within one hour of the completion of the wedding service. For purposes of this section, "props" includes tents or canopies no larger than ten feet in height and ten feet in width, chairs, and tables.

(k) A company that is issued a permit pursuant to this section shall comply with all other applicable rules and laws."

SECTION 2. The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources shall establish a program for annual training for employees in the department of land and natural resources' division of conservation and resources enforcement. The purpose of the program shall be to make all employees of the division of conservation and resources enforcement aware of the permit requirements for the use of state parks under all applicable laws and rules.

SECTION 3. 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 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to the department of land and natural resources for the establishment and implementation of a program for annual training of all employees of the department's division of conservation and resources enforcement in order to inform employees of the permit requirements for state park use.

The sums appropriated by this section shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	669
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII