THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1505
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that illegal or harmful activity throughout the Pacific Ocean has been increasing. In many cases, foreign vessels have entered new areas of the Pacific Ocean to traffic illegal commodities. Other foreign vessels have frequently entered other nations' protected areas to collect resources to the detriment of local communities and are beginning to scout waters near Hawaii to conduct undersea mining that will irreparably harm Hawaii's undersea ecosystems.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit the issuance of permits for mooring in Hawaii harbors for vessels engaged in illegal activity or operating to the detriment of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Chapter 266, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§266-   Restriction of use of facilities. When the department of transportation receives notice from a federal agency or other agency that a vessel or its crew has engaged in activity that has violated any federal, state, or county law or rule pertaining to environmental protection or maritime transportation, or trafficking of illegal contraband, or the unpermitted or unlicensed collection or extraction of undersea minerals, the department of transportation may delay or deny approval for port entry or departure; provided that in these cases, the department of transportation may grant approvals for use of any commercial harbor facility by that vessel in coordination with the federal agency or other agency."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Department of Transportation; Mooring; Permits; Prohibitions

Description:

Prohibits the issuance of permits for the mooring of vessels engaged in certain activities. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to delay or deny approval for port entry or departure in instances when the Department of Transportation receives notice from a federal agency or other agency that a vessel or its crew has engaged in activity that has violated any federal, state, or county law or rule pertaining to environmental protection or maritime transportation. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to grant approvals for use of any commercial harbor facility by a vessel in coordination with a federal agency or other agency. (SD1)

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