THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	690
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING to conservation.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that human activities have contributed to the fragility of local habitats, leading to a current crisis in the survival of Hawaiian plants and animals and impacting public and private land use.  Hawaii's endangered species law provides that the intended purpose of all habitat conservation plans, safe harbor agreements, incidental take licenses, and subsequent actions is to increase the population of Hawaii's threatened and endangered species.

     The legislature further finds that effective implementation of Hawaii's endangered species law requires resources for adequate staffing.  Currently, the department of land and natural resources division of forestry and wildlife has three administrative positions to manage statewide projects, plus additional staff supported by grants to produce standalone habitat conservation plans.  Increasing staff capacity statewide by fully funding a state civil service position to effectively track and monitor funds and expenditures related to each habitat conservation plan project would allow for greater consistency in issuing incidental take licenses, conducting follow-up monitoring for development projects, and implementing and managing of mitigation and other projects that are extremely beneficial for the recovery of Hawaii's threatened and endangered species.

     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 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) state civil service position to effectively track and monitor funds and expenditures related to habitat conservation plans, conduct follow-up monitoring for development projects, and implement and manage mitigation and other projects that benefit the recovery of threatened and endangered species.

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

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Habitat Conservation Plans; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Staff Position; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for a state civil service position to effectively track and monitor funds and expenditures related to habitat conservation plans and perform other tasks to benefit the recovery of threatened and endangered species.

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