Bill Text: HI SB794 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 794 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Special Improvement District.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-01-27 - Referred to WTL, WAM. [SB794 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2021-SB794-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	794
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to special improvement district.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in 1999, it authorized the counties to create special improvement districts to provide and finance supplemental improvements in these important districts for the purpose of restoring or promoting business activity. The legislature also finds that since then, the needs and demands in these districts have broadened to include the management or mitigation of environmental and other conditions that impact them. More specifically, the legislature finds that Hawaii is being exposed to a variety of threats that impact its environment and ecosystems, including coastal hazards and effects of climate change, such as: the increase in the frequency and severity of storms and drought; sea-level rise; groundwater inundation; and coastal erosion. These threats are of particular concern to the State due to its island topography and substantial coastal exposure.

The purpose of this bill is to reinforce the counties' authority to create special improvement districts and to bolster their efforts in achieving the objective of these districts by including the protection, preservation, and where desirable, restoration and improvement of environmental quality, as the purpose and rationale for special improvement districts.

SECTION 2. Section 46-80.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"§46-80.5 Special improvement district. (a) In addition and supplemental to the authority vested in the counties by sections 46-80 and 46-80.1, any county having a charter may enact an ordinance, and may amend the same from time to time, authorizing the creation of special improvement districts [~~for the purpose of~~]. The purposes of creating the districts include but are not limited to:

(1) Providing and financing supplemental maintenance and security services;

(2) Environmental research, restoration, and maintenance;

(3) Natural resource management;

(4) Natural hazard mitigation; and [~~such other~~]

(5) Other improvements, services, and facilities within the special improvement district as the council of the county determines will improve environmental conditions, provide community benefits, and restore or promote business activity in the special improvement district and the making and financing of improvements therein.

Each separate special improvement district shall be established by a separate ordinance enacted as provided in the ordinance authorizing the creation of special improvement districts. The ordinance authorizing the creation of special improvement districts may permit the county to provide for a board or association, established pursuant to chapter 414D, to provide management of the special improvement district, and to carry out activities as may be prescribed by the ordinance authorizing the creation of special improvement districts and the ordinance establishing the special improvement district as permitted thereby."

SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Environmental Protection; County Government; Special Improvement District

Description:

Expands the purpose and rationale for which counties may create special improvement districts to include environmental research, restoration, and maintenance; natural resource management; and natural hazard mitigation to improve environmental conditions and provide community benefits.

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