THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2165
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
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 state historic preservation division of the department of land and natural resources 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 state historic preservation division of the department of land and natural resources 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. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $           or       per cent. This current declaration takes into account general fund appropriations authorized for fiscal year 2024-2025 in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act only. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

SECTION 3. 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 2024-2025 to be deposited into the Hawaii historic preservation special fund established by section 6E-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the Hawaii historic preservation special fund the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the development of a comprehensive inventory of historic properties and burial sites located in the State; provided that the sum shall be expended as follows:

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

(2) $           for the collection of data regarding the locations of burial sites; and

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

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

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

DLNR; State Historic Preservation Division; Inventory; Burial Sites; Historic Properties; Expenditure Ceiling; 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.