HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	766
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that comprehensive statewide inventories of historic properties and burial sites are critical to managing and protecting these properties and sites in Hawaii. The absence of comprehensive statewide inventories delays project planning, since developers, planners, and state and county agencies lack key information on the locations of historic properties and burial sites. The missing data can impact planning processes by requiring projects to be redesigned or delayed after significant resources have already been expended.

The legislature further finds that a lack of key information on historic property and burial site locations hampers the State historic preservation division's ability to perform its responsibilities. The state historic preservation division relies on submitted documentation and knowledgeable individuals contributing new information to existing databases and inventories when conducting its surveys and inventory. Since some historic buildings and burial sites are located within restricted or undeveloped areas of the State, collected data are not accurate nor comprehensive.

The legislature further finds that while the department of land and natural resources' state historic preservation division is required to create and maintain inventories, the department does not receive funding to fulfill this mandate. Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of land and natural resources' state historic preservation division to expedite development of a comprehensive inventory of historic properties and burial sites located in the State and conduct relevant archaeological surveys necessary to compile the inventory.

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 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for development of a comprehensive inventory of historic properties and burial sites located in the State; provided that the sums shall be expended as follows:

(1) $           for a state-of-the-art archaeological surface survey utilizing remote sensing, aerial, and satellite imagery;

(2) $           for data collection on the location of burial sites; and

(3) $           for inventory of historic buildings, structures, and other properties.

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, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

State Historic Preservation Division; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Inventory; Burial Sites; Historic Properties; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to inventory historic properties and burial sites in the State, collect data on burial site locations, and conduct an archaeological surface survey.

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