Report Title:

Marine Enforcement Coordinator; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes the marine enforcement coordinator position under the department of land and natural resources for the conservation and resource enforcement program; appropriates $100,000 for the position.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

811

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to marine enforcement.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds Hawaii's nearshore ocean habitats are under increasing pressure from fishing and recreational use, and that the depletion of fishery habitats due to the use of gill nets and other fishing methods is a serious problem. There is a need for enforcement of regulations as well as the important work of communicating the needs of ocean resource managers to fishers and members of the ocean community. The department of land and natural resources is dependent upon the enforcement capabilities of the conservation and resource enforcement program (CARE) to enforce regulations promulgated by the Hawaii division of aquatic resources and the Hawaii division of boating and ocean recreation. At the present time, CARE has only 100 full-time officers that are engaged in responding to violations on land and sea on six islands. The enforcement capabilities of CARE are spread so thin that it is difficult for them to respond to boating and marine resource needs. The legislature further finds that to help CARE effectively respond to marine enforcement needs, the position of marine enforcement coordinator must be established at the branch chief level.

The purpose of this Act is to establish, and appropriate money towards, the position of marine enforcement coordinator to assist the conservation and resource enforcement program in more effectively responding to marine enforcement needs.

SECTION 2. Section 199-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§199-1[]] Board of land and natural resources, powers and duties. The board of land and natural resources shall establish within the department of land and natural resources a conservation and resources enforcement program relating to the enforcement of chapters under title 12 entitled "Conservation and Resources," and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and shall employ or appoint, and remove, the following persons, subject to chapters 76 and 77 and section 78-1, who shall be provided with suitable badges or insignia of office by the department of land and natural resources:

(1) An enforcement chief of the department of land and natural resources, who shall be the head of the conservation and resources enforcement program and shall have charge, direction, and control, subject to the direction and control of the board, of all matters relating to the enforcement of state conservation and resources laws and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and such other matters as the board may from time to time direct. The enforcement chief shall be an administrator experienced in conservation and resources law enforcement and management.

(2) A marine enforcement coordinator who shall help train terrestrial conservation and resource enforcement officers in fishery management, interact with members of the ocean community so as to respond to their concerns, coordinate with marine policy managers on both a state and federal level to help enforce state regulations, and work with marine educators to inform the public about marine resource policy decisions being made to protect Hawaii's ocean.

[(2)] (3) Personnel and enforcement officers of the conservation and resources enforcement program, including but not limited to enforcement officers on a voluntary basis and without pay."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, for the establishment of the position of the marine enforcement coordinator position under the department of land and natural resources to assist the conservation and resource enforcement program in more effectively responding to marine enforcement needs.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.

INTRODUCED BY:

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