HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1133
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature recognizes that marine life conservation districts are areas worthy of appropriate designation and treatment due to their location and environmental and scenic importance. Offshore marine life conservation districts allow limited commercial access and provide a protected area for aquatic life. Marine life conservation districts are most popularly used for snorkeling, diving, and underwater photography.

The purpose of this Act is to preserve and protect offshore marine life conservation districts by capping the number of access permits that may be granted and limiting access to a per cent of those vessels holding marine life conservation district permits.

SECTION 2. Section 190-4.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§190-4.5 Anchoring, boating, and mooring in marine life conservation districts; rules. (a) The department shall, pursuant to chapter 91, adopt rules for the regulation of anchoring and mooring in each marine life conservation district established under this chapter.

(b) For any marine life conservation district not accessible by land:

(1) There shall be no more than a total of forty permits granting access; provided that the department shall not issue any new permits in a respective marine life conservation district after forty permits have been issued for that marine life conservation district; and

(2) Access at any one time shall be limited to no more than fifty per cent, rounded to the lesser of the nearest whole number, of the current number of permit holders.

[(b)] (c) Within its jurisdiction over ocean recreational boating and coastal activities, the department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for the regulation of boating in each marine life conservation district established under this chapter."

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 Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.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, 2050.

Report Title:

Molokini Marine Life Conservation District; DLNR; Permits; Access

Description:

Prohibits the issuance of more than 40 access permits for any marine life conservation district not accessible by land. Limits access to any marine life conservation district not accessible by land to no more than 50 percent of permit holders. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

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