Bill Text: HI SB744 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Herbicide Use.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-23 - Referred to WTL/TRE/PSM, WAM. [SB744 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2017-SB744-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	744
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to herbicide use.

 

 

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

 

PART I

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 184, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§184-    Use of herbicides to be discontinued in the maintenance of public parks.  (a)  All state governmental agencies responsible for the maintenance of the state park system shall rely on nonchemical methods to control vegetation growth.

     (b)  For the purposes of this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

     "Nonchemical methods" means:

     (1)  Using mechanical means such as mowing, side cutting, weed whacking, torch burning, or hot water (steam) applications;

     (2)  Planting weed resistant low-growing ground cover or mulching hard-to-treat areas; and

     (3)  Utilizing community groups and "adopt a park", as well as other work resources, for extra hands or special projects."

     SECTION 2.  The department of land and natural resources shall develop and implement a plan for the phased reduction of herbicide use in the maintenance of public parks and report the nature and progress of the plan to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2018.  The department of land and natural resources shall encourage and assist the counties to join and comply with the scheduled ban of herbicide use in public parks.

PART II

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 264, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§264-    Use of herbicides to be discontinued in the maintenance of public highways.  (a)  Each county and state government shall rely on nonchemical methods to control vegetation growth in the maintenance of their respective county and state highways.

     (b)  For the purposes of this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, "nonchemical methods" means:

     (1)  Using mechanical means such as mowing, side cutting, weed whacking, torch burning, or hot water (steam) applications;

     (2)  Planting weed resistant low-growing ground cover or mulching hard-to-treat areas; and

     (3)  Utilizing community groups and "adopt a park", as well as other work resources, for extra hands or special projects."

     SECTION 4.  The department of land and natural resources shall develop and implement a plan for the phased reduction of herbicide use in the maintenance of public highways and report the nature and progress of the plan to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2018.

     SECTION 5.  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 a grant-in-aid to each county for expenses incurred in implementing sections 2 and 3 of this Act, to be allocated as follows:

     $           to the city and county of Honolulu;

     $           to the county of Maui;

     $           to the county of Hawaii; and

     $           to the county of Kauai.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by each county for the purposes of this Act.

PART III

     SECTION 6.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Herbicide Use; Public Parks; Public Highways; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires all state agencies to rely on nonchemical methods of controlling vegetation growth in the maintenance of the state park system.  Requires state and county governments to maintain public highways with nonchemical methods of controlling vegetation growth.  Appropriates funds to each county.

 

 

 

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