Report Title:
Advisory referendum; West Hawaii county
Description:
Establishes an advisory referendum on the question of whether West Hawaii should be established as a separate county with the proposed division between the counties as a straight line running from Upolu Point in the north to South Point in the south.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2593 |
TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO WEST HAWAII.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii county is the largest landmass in the Hawaiian islands. It has two distinct population bases, the eastern region centering around Hilo, the more established area, and the western region, centering around Kona, with a distinctly different character.
The legislature further finds that county services are spread very thinly throughout the island. It has been proposed that a splitting of the island into two counties, one east, one west, would allow more efficient and directed service for each.
The purpose of this Act is to establish an advisory referendum on the question of whether West Hawaii should be established as a separate county. The proposed division between the counties would be a straight line running from Upolu Point in the north to South Point in the south.
SECTION 2. At the 2004 general election, there shall be an advisory referendum on the question of the need for the creation of the county of West Hawaii, to be voted on by the residents in county council districts 6, 7, 8, and 9. The chief election officer of the State shall submit the following question to the electorate in those districts with instructions as follows:
The proposal shall read: "Shall a new county of West Hawaii be established west of a straight line between Upolu Point and South Point?"
The chief election officer shall publish a notice of the referendum proposal and descriptive information concerning the proposed new county, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least thirty days before the date of the referendum. The notice of the referendum shall also be available at all public libraries in council districts 6, 7, 8, and 9 and the office of the county clerk.
The ballot shall print the question and the question shall have designated spaces to mark YES or NO. The proposal shall be considered approved only if approved by a majority of all the votes tallied upon the question, this majority constituting more than fifty per cent of the total votes cast at the election.
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 2004-2005, for the purpose of funding the advisory referendum established in this Act.
SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.
INTRODUCED BY: |
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