HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2613

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR HEEIA NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of twenty-eight protected areas along America's coasts.  According to the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Strategic Plan 2011-2016, the System is founded on the principle that long-term protection of representative estuaries provides stable platforms for research and education and the application of management practices that will benefit the nation's estuaries and coasts.

     The legislature finds that the State has coordinated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to nominate Heeia estuary as a National Estuarine Research Reserve.  The site, located on Oahu's windward shore, includes Heeia state park, Heeia fishpond, and the Heeia community development district, as well as marine waters with patch and fringing reefs and Moku o Loe (Coconut Island).  In 2012, the office of planning was designated as the lead agency to coordinate the selection for a Hawaii site to be designated as a National Estuarine Research Reserve and nomination process for Heeia to be designated as a National Estuarine Research Reserve.  In 2014, Heeia was officially nominated as a National Estuarine Research Reserve to support NOAA's policy to encourage expansion of the program in unrepresented areas of the country.

     The Heeia site was chosen as the preferred site after a statewide solicitation period from interested communities.  The office of planning supported the designation process through the development of the Heeia National Estuarine Research Reserve System management plan.  On January 19, 2017, the Heeia site was officially designated as the twenty-ninth site in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, which enables federal funding to support the implementation of the management plan.

     The Hawaii institute of marine biology, which is part of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, is the lead agency for implementation of the Heeia National Estuarine Research Reserve System management plan.  The University's partners will include the Hawaii community development authority, department of land and natural resources, and several community organizations.  For Heeia reserve to succeed in its function within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, funding for initial staffing is essential.  The initial staffing needs are four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) positions:  reserve manager, education coordinator, research coordinator, and cultural resource coordinator.  Although the University of Hawaii has agreed to fund these positions in the first year, further funding is required to sustain them and to keep Heeia reserve fully functioning.  These positions must be established and sustained to develop and manage Heeia reserve and keep it fully functioning.  The legislature notes that as funding or partnership opportunities become available, additional staff will be required within the first five years to meet management plan goals and objectives, and further notes that the federal government matches state appropriations on a seventy per cent (federal) to thirty per cent (state) basis.

     The purpose of this Act is to support Heeia estuary in its designation as a National Estuarine Research Reserve by appropriating funds to maintain the initial staff necessary to develop and manage Heeia reserve and its programs.

     SECTION 2.  Contractors and other third parties who receive funds under this Act may be subject to review and inspection by the department of land and natural resources, the attorney general, and the auditor.  Upon request by such agencies, the contractor or third party shall be required to submit for review all files, records, documents, and accounting related to the use and expenditure of funds received pursuant to this Act, whether the funds were received via contract, grant, or other agreement.

     SECTION 3.  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 2018-2019 for the hiring of       full-time equivalent (      FTE) permanent positions within the University of Hawaii to maintain the initial staff positions that are necessary to develop and manage Heeia reserve and its programs.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Heeia National Estuarine Research Reserve; Staff Hiring; University of Hawaii; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2018-2019 to maintain the initial staff positions that are necessary to develop and manage the Heeia National Estuarine Research Reserve and its programs.

 

 

 

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