THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2356
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO DISPOSITION OF TAX REVENUES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 247-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§247-7  Disposition of taxes.  All taxes collected under this chapter shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the general fund of the State, to be used and expended for the purposes for which the general fund was created and exists by law; provided that of the taxes collected each fiscal year:

     (1)  Ten per cent or [$6,800,000,] or $7,600,000, whichever is less, shall be paid into the land conservation fund established pursuant to section 173A-5; [and]

     (2)  Fifty per cent or $38,000,000, whichever is less, shall be paid into the rental housing revolving fund established by section 201H-202[.]; and

(3) Twenty-five per cent or $19,000,000, whichever is less, shall be paid into the natural area reserve fund established by section 195-9; provided that the funds paid into the natural area reserve fund shall be annually disbursed by the department of land and natural resources in the following priority:

(A) To natural area partnership and forest stewardship programs after joint consultation with the forest stewardship committee and the natural area reserves system commission;

(B) Projects undertaken in accordance with watershed management plans pursuant to section 171-58 or watershed management plans negotiated with private landowners, and management of the natural area reserves system pursuant to section 195-3; and

(C) The youth conservation corps established under chapter 193."

     SECTION 2.  Section 195F-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  There is established a special fund within the state treasury known as the forest stewardship fund which shall be used as follows:

     (1)  Payments shall be made by the board pursuant to agreements entered into with qualified landowners to further the purposes of this chapter; [and]

     (2)  Moneys collected from:

         (A)  The harvest of non-native forest products from forest reserves;

         (B)  The harvest of native forest products from degraded forests as defined in section 186-5.5, within forest reserves;

         (C)  The sale of forest products found dead and lying on the ground;

         (D)  The sale of tree seedlings from state nurseries;

         (E)  The sale of any other products or services, or anything of value derived from forest reserves not described above; or

         (F)  The imposition of fines or penalties for violations of this chapter and chapters 183 and 185 or any rule adopted thereunder;

          shall be used for:  (i) replanting, managing, and maintaining designated timber management areas; (ii) enhancing the management of public forest reserves with an emphasis on restoring degraded koa forests; and (iii) developing environmental education and training programs pertaining to sustainable forestry; provided that the activities described in clauses (ii) and (iii) may not be funded unless the activities described in approved management plans pertaining to clause (i) are adequately funded[.]; and

(3) Moneys deposited into the fund as authorized by section 247-7 may also be used by the department to administer the program and manage the forest reserve system."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Conveyance Tax; Conservation

Description:

Requires ten per cent or $7,600,000, whichever is less, of conveyance taxes collected to be paid into the land conservation fund.  Requires twenty-five per cent in each fiscal year or $19,000,000, whichever is less, of conveyance taxes collected to be paid into the natural area reserve fund, with specified allocations.  Allows DLNR to use moneys in the forest stewardship fund to administer the program and manage the forest reserve system.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.