Bill Text: HI HB1839 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 1839 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Diamond Head State Monument; GO Bonds ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-03-23 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. [HB1839 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HB1839-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1839
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE DIAMOND HEAD STATE MONUMENT.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Diamond Head is a world-famous landmark, representing Hawaii to millions of people throughout the world. In recognition of Diamond Head's wealth of information about Hawaii's geology, plants, and ancient Hawaiian culture, the legislature adopted Act 104, Session Laws of Hawaii 1976, to establish the Diamond Head State Monument as an historical site on Oahu. Subsequently, the Diamond Head State Monument plan of 1979 established a state policy of establishing a semi-wilderness park with minimal enhancement to Diamond Head. The Diamond Head Citizens Advisory Committee was formed in 1977 to advise the department of land and natural resources on the preservation and management of Diamond Head. Further, Act 313, Session Laws of Hawaii 1992, reaffirmed the recognition of Diamond Head crater as a natural landmark by the federal government and a state monument by the State of Hawaii.

The legislature further finds that number of visitors at Diamond Head exceeds one million annually, more than other state parks. Therefore, Act 292, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, established within the state parks special fund a Diamond Head State Monument sub-account, into which is deposited fifty-five per cent of all proceeds collected from the admission fees charged at the Diamond Head State Monument. Moneys from the sub-account are to be expended on repair, maintenance, and operating costs incurred by the State in the management of the Diamond Head State Monument.

The legislature further finds that visitors to the Diamond Head State Monument currently use the services of an interpretive kiosk. The high number of visitors, however, justifies the planning, design, and construction of a dedicated visitor and interpretive center, which has been a long-standing goal of the Diamond Head State Monument master plan, and which can more adequately inform the public and provide educational programs about the unique history and significance of Diamond Head.

The purpose of this Act is to support the Diamond Head State Monument by:

(1) Including appropriations from the legislature as a source from which moneys may be deposited into the state parks special fund;

(2) Increasing the percentage of proceeds collected from the admission fees charged at the Diamond Head State Monument that are deposited into the Diamond Head State Momument sub-account of the state parks special fund from fifty-five per cent to per cent;

(3) Expanding the sources from which moneys shall be deposited into the Diamond Head State Monument sub-account of the state parks special fund;

(4) Authorizing the department of land and natural resources to expend moneys from the Diamond Head State Monument sub-account of the state parks special fund on planning, design, construction, at the Diamond Head State Monument, including the visitor and interpretive center, and educational programs relating to the Diamond Head State Monument; and

(5) Authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for the planning, design, and construction of a Diamond Head State Monument visitor and interpretive center.

SECTION 2. Section 184-3.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§184-3.4 State parks special fund. (a) There is established within the state treasury a fund to be known as the state parks special fund, into which shall be deposited:

(1) All proceeds collected by the state parks programs involving park user fees, any leases or concession agreements, the sale of any article purchased from the department to benefit the state parks programs, or any gifts or contributions; provided that proceeds derived from the operation of Iolani Palace shall be used to supplement its educational and interpretive programs; [~~and~~]

(2) Transient accommodations tax revenues pursuant to section 237D-6.5; provided that these moneys shall be expended in response to a master plan developed in coordination with the Hawaii tourism authority[.]; and

(3) Appropriations by the legislature to the state parks special fund.

(b) The department shall expend the moneys from the state parks special fund for the following purposes:

(1) Permanent and temporary staff positions;

(2) Planning and development of state parks programs, including the aina hoomalu state parks program;

(3) Construction, repairs, replacement, additions, and extensions of state parks facilities;

(4) Operation and maintenance costs of state parks and state parks programs; and

(5) Administrative costs of the division of state parks.

(c) There is established within the state parks special fund[,] a Diamond Head State Monument sub-account, into which shall be deposited [~~fifty-five~~] per cent of all proceeds collected from [~~the admission~~]:

(1) Admission and user fees [~~charged at~~] and lease and concession agreements involving the Diamond Head State Monument[.];

(2) Funds to benefit the Diamond Head State Monument resulting from the sale of any article purchased from the department;

(3) Gifts and contributions; and

(4) Appropriations by the legislature to the Diamond Head State Monument sub-account of the state parks special fund.

(d) The department shall expend the moneys from the Diamond Head State Monument sub-account for [~~repair,~~]:

(1) Repair, replacement, maintenance, [~~and~~] operating, and management costs;

(2) Planning, design, construction, and additions; and

(3) Education programs;

[~~incurred by the State in the management of~~] relating to the Diamond Head State Monument[.], including a visitor and interpretive center."

SECTION 3. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the purpose of planning, designing, and constructing a Diamond Head State Monument visitor and interpretive center.

The sum appropriated shall be deposited into the Diamond Head State Monument sub-account of the state parks special fund.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the Diamond Head State Monument sub-account of the state parks special fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the capital improvement project set forth in section 3.

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

SECTION 5. The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2018, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Diamond Head State Monument; State Parks Special Fund; GO Bonds; Appropriation

Description:

Expands the sources of funds for the Diamond Head State Monument sub-account of the state parks special fund. Authorizes additional uses of moneys from the sub-account. Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for the planning, design, and construction of a visitor and interpretive center.

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