Bill Text: HI HB2471 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Inspections On Public Land.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-07-08 - Act 220, 07/08/2024 (Gov. Msg. No. 1321). [HB2471 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB2471-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2471 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO INSPECTIONS ON PUBLIC LAND.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that under chapter 171, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the terms and conditions of the various land dispositions approved by the board of land and natural resources, the department of land and natural resources (department) has authority to periodically inspect the premises under lease, license, or revocable permit. However, due to staff constraints, the department's land agents are not able to conduct regular inspections of every property under lease, license, or revocable permit. Additionally, the department's land agents are typically not architects, engineers, or licensed contractors and may not be qualified to identify components of existing structures on the premises in need of repair or replacement. Furthermore, to the extent the department's land agents are able to identify items requiring repair or replacement, existing lease terms and conditions do not provide the department with sufficient leverage to compel the lessee to make the necessary repair or replacement. This is particularly problematic at the end of a long-term lease when the lessee has little incentive to invest significant funds in the upkeep of the property.
The legislature further finds that the house investigative committee (committee), established under House Resolution No. 164 during the 2021 regular session, was tasked with, among other things, reviewing audit report No. 19-12 by the state auditor, on the department's special land and development fund. Rather than having the department's land agents conduct the inspections, the committee recommended that the department require lessees to pay for third-party inspectors selected by the department to conduct physical inspections of the leased property every five years. The committee further recommended that, if the third-party inspector finds any defaults with the lease terms, the lessee should be required to take any corrective actions recommended by the inspector.
The purpose of this Act is to establish a statutory framework for inspections of public land leases, licenses, and revocable permits by the department, provided that:
(1) The inspections may be conducted by qualified third-party inspectors contracted by the department but paid for by the lessee, licensee, or permittee, as applicable; and
(2) If the inspection identifies items
needing repair or replacement, the lessee, licensee, or permittee will be
required to make the necessary repair or replacement at its expense or risk
termination of its land disposition.
SECTION 2. Chapter 171, Hawaii Revised Statutes is
amended by adding to subpart B of part II a new section to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:
"§171-
Inspection
of demised premises. (a) The department may conduct inspections of all
public land subject to a lease, license, or revocable permit to ensure that:
(1) The land is being used for the purpose for which it was originally
leased or an alternative use as provided and approved by the board pursuant to
section 171-36;
(2) No unauthorized activities are taking place on the land;
(3) The lease or license has not been transferred or assigned in violation
of section 171-36 and the revocable permit has not been transferred or assigned
in violation of its terms and conditions;
(4) No portion of the land has been sublet in violation of section 171-36
or the terms and conditions of the lease, license, or revocable permit;
(5) No hazardous materials are present on the land, except as specifically
authorized under and in conformity with the applicable lease, license, or
revocable permit; and
(6) All structures, buildings, and improvements to the land are maintained
in acceptable condition so that:
(A) The purpose of the lease, license, or revocable permit may be
adequately and safely fulfilled;
(B) The use or conditions of the land do not endanger the health and
safety of individuals present on the land or the public; and
(C) All property and improvements that may revert to the State at the
termination of the lease, license, or revocable permit are present and
maintained in functional and safe condition.
Notice of inspections shall be given in
accordance with the terms and conditions of lease, license, or revocable
permit, as applicable, or in the event the applicable disposition document is
silent as to the notice required, then in writing to the lessee, licensee, or
permittee at least five business days prior to the inspection. No notice shall be required for inspections
conducted in response to an emergency.
For purposes of this section, "emergency" means any
occurrence, or imminent threat thereof, that results or may likely result in
substantial injury or harm to a natural person or substantial damage to or loss
of property or substantial damage to or loss of the environment.
(b) Inspections pursuant to this section may be
conducted by a disinterested third-party inspector contracted by the
department; provided that any land agent of the department and any party to the
lease, license, or revocable permit may be present during the inspection and
may observe the inspection. All costs of
the inspection shall be paid by the lessee, licensee, or permittee. Inspectors shall submit a report of findings
and recommendations to the department no later than fifteen days after the
inspection has been completed. The
department may use the inspector's report as a basis for taking any corrective
action in regard to the lease, license, revocable permit, or land that is
allowable under this chapter. Any action
taken by the department pursuant to the inspector's report shall be carried out
in conformity with the requirements of this chapter. The lessee, licensee, or permittee shall be
responsible for the cost of and for carrying out any corrective action required
under this section.
(c) It shall be a violation of the provisions of
the applicable lease, license, or permit for any lessee, licensee, or permittee
to:
(1) Prevent, interfere with, unduly influence,
obstruct, refuse to cooperate with, hinder, or unreasonably delay any
inspection required by this section or attempt to do so;
(2) Harass, interfere with, unduly influence,
obstruct, refuse to cooperate with, hinder, or unreasonably delay any inspector,
land agent, or officer or employee of the department acting in accordance with
this section or attempt to do so; or
(3) Refuse to comply with, interfere with,
obstruct, refuse to cooperate with, hinder, or unreasonably delay any
corrective action ordered by the department pursuant to an inspector's report
submitted pursuant to this section or attempt to do so;
provided that the board may impose any
penalty allowable for violation of this chapter including termination of the
lease, license, or revocable permit, assessment of administrative penalties,
and imposition of fines.
This
section shall be incorporated as a provision
of all the board's hereafter entered into leases, licenses, and revocable
permits by operation of law as of the effective date of the Act establishing
this section."
SECTION 3. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act, upon
its approval, shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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BY REQUEST |
Report Title:
Public Land; Inspections
Description:
Establishes a statutory framework for inspections of public land leases, licenses, and revocable permits by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
