Bill Text: HI HB246 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Coastal Protection.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-09 - The committee(s) on WAL recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HB246 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2021-HB246-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	246
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to coastal protection.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 171, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§171-     Private seawalls.  (a)  Notwithstanding any limitations to the contrary, the board may lease, by direct negotiation and without recourse to public auction, state submerged lands for private seawalls on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the board; provided that:

     (1)  In addition to any payment of fair market value or fair market rental of reclaimed land determined pursuant to section 171-53, an abutting land owner shall pay an annual lease rent as determined by paragraph (2); and

     (2)  In calculating lease rents for state submerged lands for private seawalls, the amount of the lease rent shall be ten per cent of the real property tax assessment, as determined by the applicable county, for the property at which the seawall is located.

     (b)  All amounts collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the beach restoration special fund established by section 171-156.

     §171-     Temporary structures; emergency permits for shoreline protection and stabilization of shoreline erosion; rules.  The board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to limit temporary structures approved under emergency permits for shoreline protection and the stabilization of shoreline erosion to a maximum of three years, after which the temporary structure shall be removed, unless the board approves the structure as a permanent structure.  These rules shall also provide for fines against the permit holder for noncompliance."

     SECTION 2.  Section 171-28, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The board may lease government-owned Hawaiian fishponds with legislative authorization as provided under section [171-53(c);] 171-53(d) provided that in lieu of legislative authorization, the board may lease such fishponds if:

     (1)  A public hearing is conducted on the proposed lease on the island where the fishpond is located;

     (2)  The board finds that the proposed lease does not cause a substantial adverse environmental or ecological impact on the fishpond or surrounding area; and

     (3)  The proposed lease is not in violation of applicable federal, state, or county laws."

     SECTION 3.  Section 171-53, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§171-53  Reclamation and disposition of submerged or reclaimed public land.  (a)  Any submerged public land or land beneath tidal waters shall not hereafter be reclaimed by private abutting owners, except as hereinafter provided.

     (b)  As to presently reclaimed land, the board of land and natural resources, after finding that its disposition is not prejudicial to the best interest of the State, community, or area in which such reclaimed land is located and after giving public notice in accordance with section 171-16(d) of its intention to dispose, may dispose of it, without recourse to public auction, to the abutting owner, by sale or lease; provided that if the reclaimed land has been filled in or made with the prior approval of government authorities, and not otherwise filled in or made contrary to the public interest, it may be disposed of at fair market value or fair market rental of the submerged public land, but if the reclaimed land has been filled or made otherwise, it shall be disposed of at the fair market value or fair market rental of the reclaimed land[.]; provided further that any lease or easement shall not exceed sixty-five years.

     (c)  In making its finding under subsection (b) that the disposition of presently reclaimed land is not prejudicial to the best interest of the State, community, or area in which such reclaimed land is located, the board shall evaluate any potential adverse effects on beach processes and the potential exacerbation of shoreline erosion.

     [(c)] (d)  The board, with the prior approval of the governor and the prior authorization of the legislature by concurrent resolution, may lease state submerged lands and lands beneath tidal waters under the terms, conditions, and restrictions provided in this chapter; provided that the authorization of the legislature shall not be required for leases issued under chapter 190D; and provided further that the approval of the governor and authorization of the legislature shall not be required for any grant of easement or lease of state submerged lands or lands beneath tidal waters used for moorings, cables, or pipelines; provided further that this exemption shall not apply to easements for cables used for interisland electrical transmission or slurry pipelines used for transportive materials, mined at sea, or waste products from the processing of the same.

     The lease shall provide that the lands shall be reclaimed at the expense of the lessee.  Title to the reclaimed lands shall remain in the State.

     [(d)] (e)  Whenever in connection with reclaimed lands or the reclamation of submerged lands or lands beneath tidal waters by authority of law, the board deems it advantageous to the State in order to settle the rights (littoral or otherwise), if any, of an abutting owner, to create public beaches, or to consolidate the holdings of public lands in the vicinity or provide public ways or access to the public lands, it may, with the prior approval of the governor, sell, lease, or transfer by way of an exchange, without recourse to public auction but subject to the limitations contained in section 171-50 and to the other provisions of this chapter, lands having the status of public lands."

     SECTION 4.  Section 171-156, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  There is established in the state treasury a special fund to be designated as the "beach restoration special fund" to carry out the purposes of this part.  The following moneys shall be deposited into the beach restoration special fund:

     (1)  Proceeds from the lease or development of public coastal lands designated pursuant to a beach restoration plan, subject to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, and section 5(f) of the Admission Act of 1959;

     (2)  Proceeds from the lease of public lands pursuant to this part for [an existing] any seawall or revetment;

     (3)  Fines collected for unauthorized shoreline structures on state submerged land or conservation district land;

     (4)  Appropriations made by the legislature for deposit into this fund;

     (5)  Donations and contributions made by private individuals or organizations for deposit into this fund;

     (6)  Fees collected for the processing of applications for coastal and beach erosion control projects; and

     (7)  Grants provided by governmental agencies or any other source."

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

State Submerged Lands; Seawalls; Lease Rents and Terms; Shoreline Protection and Stabilization of Shoreline Erosion

 

Description:

Authorizes BLNR to lease state submerged lands for private seawalls, with lease rents to be ten per cent of the real property tax assessment.  Requires BLNR to adopt rules to limit temporary structures approved under emergency permits for shoreline protection and the stabilization of shoreline erosion to a maximum of three years, after which the temporary structure must be removed, unless BLNR approves the structure as a permanent structure.

 

 

 

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