Bill Text: HI SB2618 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To The Department Of The Attorney General.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-03-15 - The committee(s) on EEP recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [SB2618 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-SB2618-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2618 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in rural areas, such as Molokai, a remote island with a population of about seven thousand people, many state departments do not have full time employees dedicated to enforcement activities available. Therefore, when a complaint is made, the state departments do not have staff physically present to address the situation; instead, many times a state department has to rely on still photos and videos that may not capture the full extent of the situation or be sufficient to support the issuance of a citation. State departments must then make a determination whether to send a staff member into the field after the fact to conduct an investigation, which can take weeks to schedule depending upon flight schedules or staff availability. The delay obviously hampers the ability of any government inspector to witness the violation and issue an enforceable citation. These limitations lead to delays in stopping environmentally hazardous activities, that impact the health and safety of the residents of Molokai.
The legislature further finds that a multi-departmental investigative hotline may give residents a way to report concerns and violations to someone in a remote location who is familiar with the local landmarks and regions, as not all locations in rural areas such as Molokai have physical addresses or cross-streets to identify exact locations. The assignment of a trained investigator to rural areas who can communicate directly with state departments and utilize the resources of the office of the attorney general may address these situations in a timely manner and save state departments the unpredictable costs of travel and other related expenses.
The purpose of the Act is to establish and fund:
(1) An environmental investigative hotline pilot project through the department of the attorney general, investigations division, that shall implement and manage an investigative hotline for Molokai residents to report environmental concerns on Molokai; and
(2) One full time investigator on the island of Molokai to investigate environmental concerns.
SECTION 2. There is established the environmental investigative hotline pilot project. The department of the attorney general, investigations division, shall implement and manage the pilot project for Molokai residents to report environmental violations and concerns on Molokai.
SECTION 3. The department of the attorney general, investigations division, shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations relating to the environmental investigative hotline pilot project, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023.
SECTION 4. 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 2022-2023 for the implementation and management of the environmental investigative hotline pilot project.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of the attorney general, investigations division, for the purposes of this Act.
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 2022-2023 for one full time equivalent (1.0 FTE) investigator position on Molokai to investigate potential environmental concerns reported through the environmental investigative hotline pilot project.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of the attorney general, investigations division, for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 30, 2075.
Report Title:
Investigative; Hotline; Molokai; Environment; Pilot Project; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes and funds an environmental investigative hotline pilot project through the Department of the Attorney General, Investigations Division, that will implement and manage an investigative hotline for Molokai residents to report environmental concerns on Molokai and have one full time investigator on the island of Molokai to investigate environmental concerns. Takes effect 7/30/2075. (SD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
