Report Title:

State Parks; Funding

 

Description:

Sets forth a funding mechanism that directly links the state park system's operating and maintenance expenditures to income derived from tourists. (SD1)

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1169

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to state parks.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature recognizes the connection between Hawaii's state park system and the vitality of its economy, especially its tourism sector. Over 7,000,000 tourists visit our islands each year to enjoy our great outdoors, including the natural beauty and the cultural treasures that comprise much of the state park system.

In the past, the nexus between the state park system and the tourism sector has not been clearly connected, as our state parks are usually some distance away from what are generally viewed as the primary tourism facilities, the resort destination. However, the allure of our islands to these tourists very heavily depends on ancillary facilities such as shopping and entertainment venues and customary visits to cultural and natural offerings of our state parks and other outdoor venues.

The recent and prolonged economic malaise has, as in most other government programs, severely limited the ability of the state park system to properly maintain the heavily used and often aged state park facilities throughout our islands, often leading to complaints from visitors and repeat visitors about the deteriorated condition of our state parks.

In order to better align the heretofore limited linkage between tourism and the state park system and recognizing the natural benefit of direct assistance, from an industry whose constituency is the majority of the state park users, the legislature believes that a portion of the tourism special fund's share of the transient accommodations tax should be earmarked to supplement the operating costs of the state park system.

SECTION 2. Section 184-3.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) There is established within the state treasury a fund to be known as the state parks special fund. All proceeds collected by the state parks programs involving park user fees, any leases or concession agreements, the sale of any article purchased from the department to benefit the state parks programs, [or] any gifts or contributions, legislative appropriations, or moneys provided from the tourism special fund pursuant to section 201B-11 shall be deposited into this fund; provided that proceeds derived from the operation of Iolani Palace shall be used to supplement its educational and interpretive programs."

SECTION 3. Section 201B-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is

amended to read as follows:

"[[]§201B-11[]] Tourism special fund. (a) There is established in the state treasury the tourism special fund, into which shall be deposited:

(1) A portion of the revenues from any transient accommodations tax, as provided by section 237D-6.5; and

(2) Appropriations by the legislature to the tourism special fund; and

(3) Gifts, grants, and other funds accepted by the authority.

(b) Moneys in the tourism special fund may be placed in interest-bearing accounts or otherwise invested by the authority until such time as the moneys may be needed. All interest accruing from the investment of these moneys shall be credited to the tourism special fund.

(c) Moneys in the tourism special fund shall be used by the authority for the purposes of this chapter, provided that not more than three per cent of this amount shall be used for administrative expenses; provided further that of this amount the sum of $15,000 shall be made available for a protocol fund to be expended at the discretion of the executive director; provided further that moneys in the tourism special fund shall be used for the salaries and expenses of the office of tourism established in section 201-92[.]; and provided further that not more than six per cent of the amount provided for in subsection (a)(1) shall be transferred annually into the state parks special fund for expenditures authorized under that fund."

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the tourism special fund the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, for deposit into the state parks special fund created in section 184-3.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii tourism authority. SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the state parks special fund the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, for the purpose of the state parks special fund. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.