Report Title:

Relating to the State Plan

Description:

Clarifies the policy of the State to actively encourage the maintenance and expansion of federal investment in military facilities in the State. (HB1805 HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1805

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE STATE PLAN.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the United States military has always had a significant presence in Hawaii. Federal expenditures for the maintenance of military facilities and personnel have always been a large part of our local economy. Today we are seeing massive increased investment into our economy with the improvements to Hickam Air Force Base to accommodate eight new C-17 transport planes, the proposed improvements throughout the State to accommodate the enhanced Stryker Brigade at Schofield Barracks, and the massive military housing projects that are about to begin throughout Hawaii. Hawaii is also under consideration as a home port for a multi-ship aircraft carrier group and air wing.

The legislature is concerned that for many people in our State’s civilian community, the military becomes "real" only when there is some type of parade or ceremony, when people are inconvenienced during military exercises or the movement of troops or equipment, or when news reports discuss the concerns of merchants facing a loss of customers due to troop deployments.

In reality, however, the military is with us in every way and contributing every day. Whether through the infusion of construction dollars, purchases and expenditures by military personnel and their family members in the civilian economy, or the hiring of thousands of civilian employees in a variety of capacities, Hawaii’s military has long played and continues to play an essential role in the State’s economy.

The military was not created as a conduit to channel federal moneys to states and localities. Like any other government agency, the military has a job to do--ultimately, when necessary, to fight wars and win. Like any government agency that is overseen by civilian authorities, the military is in danger of losing personnel, facilities, or appropriations that are considered superfluous to achieving its missions.

Traditional warfare has been dirty, dangerous, and unkind to living things. Modern warfare is much the same, except with greater mobility and more powerful and sophisticated weapons. One constant over time, however, is the axiom that realistic training is the best way to ensure that our troops will survive. While realistic training once called for close order drill and the coordinated massed firing of muskets, the realities of modern warfare now require a variety of terrains and broad areas in which to maneuver mechanized equipment. Training areas must be suitable not only for small units of troops firing small arms such as rifles, machine guns, and grenade launchers. Proper realistic command and control training for higher level commanders dictates training scenarios involving hundreds, if not thousands, of troops using combined small arms, artillery, helicopters, and other armaments as well as movement in mechanized equipment over wide areas--sometimes at night. Troops who limit their training to drills on parade grounds are not likely to survive in combat.

The legislature recognizes the need of the military not only to train appropriately, but to build, maintain, expand, and upgrade facilities, living quarters, communications equipment, and the myriad of other components required to sustain major, sophisticated operations. At the same time, there is a no less equal reality that all of our people, and civilians in particular, live in a free society and that, within the limits of reasonable government regulation, people are free to travel unencumbered and also to use the lands they own as they see fit. It is understandable that they will be concerned if military training exercises involving heavy equipment or firing live ammunition occur in close proximity to their homes.

As in many other aspects of life, an important role of state government in general and the legislature in particular is to take a leadership role in sorting out the competing needs and priorities of the people--all of the people--of this State. Put simply, state government must do everything it can to ensure that the military and civilian sectors are both able to "be themselves" to the extent that they can within the confines of a small island state, with a fragile environment, far from anywhere else, in the center of the largest ocean in the world. This is best accomplished by taking steps to ensure that the interchange between the respective sectors is maximized, while encroachment is minimized.

This nation will soon be undergoing another round of painful military base realignments and closings. The loss of any of Hawaii’s military facilities is detrimental to our economy in a number of ways. Nevertheless, the legislature is under no illusion that the enactment of any state law will of itself, influence, much less control, any action of the federal government. More significantly, however, the legislature sincerely believes that the military facilities in this State play a critical role in the defense posture of this nation and deserve retention on their merits alone. The legislature, for its part, seeks to ensure that Hawaii’s military facilities can continue to operate in an optimum manner, and thereby ensure their survival.

The purpose of this Act is to emphasize that one of the main objectives and policies of our state plan is to promote the expansion of federal military installations and investment in the State and to fully support the continual operations of existing installations.

SECTION 2. Section 225M-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) The office of planning shall gather, analyze, and provide information to the governor to assist in the overall analysis and formulation of state policies and strategies to provide central direction and cohesion in the allocation of resources and effectuation of state activities and programs, and effectively address current or emerging issues and opportunities. More specifically, the office shall engage in the following activities:

(1) State comprehensive planning and program coordination. Formulating and articulating comprehensive statewide goals, objectives, policies, and priorities, and coordinating their implementation through the statewide planning system established in part II of chapter 226;

(2) Strategic planning. Identifying and analyzing significant issues, problems, and opportunities confronting the State, and formulating strategies and alternative courses of action in response to identified problems and opportunities by:

(A) Providing in-depth policy research, analysis, and recommendations on existing or potential areas of critical state concern;

(B) Examining and evaluating the effectiveness of state programs in implementing state policies and priorities;

(C) Monitoring through surveys, environmental scanning, and other techniques--current social, economic, and physical conditions and trends; and

(D) Developing, in collaboration with affected public or private agencies and organizations, implementation plans and schedules and, where appropriate, assisting in the mobilization of resources to meet identified needs;

(3) Planning coordination and cooperation. Facilitating coordinated and cooperative planning and policy development and implementation activities among state agencies, and between the state, county, and federal governments, by:

(A) Reviewing, assessing, and coordinating, as necessary, major plans, programs, projects, and regulatory activities existing or proposed by state and county agencies; [and]

(B) Formulating mechanisms to simplify, streamline, or coordinate interagency development and regulatory processes; and

(C) Recognizing the military presence in the State as an area of critical state concern and coordinating with the United States Department of Defense and other federal agencies for any assistance and involvement of state and county agencies in maximizing local national defense missions as well as the continued maintenance and expansion of military facilities in the State.

(4) Planning information system. Collecting, analyzing, maintaining, and disseminating data and information to further effective state planning, policy analysis and development, and delivery of government services by:

(A) Assembling, organizing, evaluating, and classifying existing data and performing necessary basic research in order to provide a common data base for governmental planning;

(B) Planning, developing, implementing, and coordinating a statewide planning and geographic information system. The office shall be the lead agency responsible for planning and coordinating the establishment of a multi-agency, statewide geographic information system and the development of planning applications, including spatial data analyses to enhance decision making; and

(C) Maintaining a centralized depository of state and national planning references;

(5) Land use planning. Developing and presenting the position of the State in all boundary change petitions and proceedings before the land use commission, assisting state agencies in the development and submittal of petitions for land use district boundary amendments, and conducting periodic reviews of the classification and districting of all lands in the State, as specified in chapter 205;

(6) Coastal and ocean policy management. Carrying out the lead agency responsibilities for the Hawaii coastal zone management program, as specified in chapter 205A. Also, developing and maintaining an ocean and coastal resources information, planning, and management system further developing and coordinating implementation of the ocean resources management plan, and formulating ocean policies with respect to the exclusive economic zone, coral reefs, and national marine sanctuaries;

(7) Regional planning and studies. Conducting plans and studies to determine:

(A) The capability of various regions within the State to support projected increases in both resident populations and visitors;

(B) The potential physical, social, economic, and environmental impact on these regions resulting from increases in both resident populations and visitors;

(C) The maximum annual [visitor carrying] visitor-carrying capacity for the State by region, county, and island; and

(D) The appropriate guidance and management of selected regions and areas of statewide critical concern.

The studies in subparagraphs (A) to (C) shall be conducted at appropriate intervals, but not less than once every five years; and

(8) Regional, national, and international planning. Participating in and assuring that state plans, policies, and objectives are consistent, to the extent practicable, with regional, national, and international planning efforts."

SECTION 3. Section 226-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) To achieve the federal expenditures objective, it shall be the policy of this State to:

(1) Encourage the sustained flow of federal expenditures in Hawaii that generates long-term government civilian employment[.];

(2) Promote Hawaii's supportive role in national defense[.], including supporting the continued operations of all existing military installations and the establishment and expansion of new military installations under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Defense in Hawaii to support a military presence in Hawaii consistent with:

(A) The military's mission, plans, and policies; and

(B) Hawaii's social, environmental, and cultural goals;

(3) Promote the development of federally supported activities in Hawaii that respect [state-wide] statewide economic concerns, are sensitive to community needs, and minimize adverse impacts on Hawaii's environment[.];

(4) Increase opportunities for entry and advancement of Hawaii's people into federal government service[.];

(5) Promote federal use of local commodities, services, and facilities available in Hawaii[.];

(6) Strengthen federal-state-county communication and coordination in all federal activities that affect Hawaii[.]; and

(7) Pursue the return of federally controlled lands in Hawaii that are not required for either the defense of the nation or for other purposes of national importance, and promote the mutually beneficial exchanges of land between federal agencies, the State, and the counties."

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

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