STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3222

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1656

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1656, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAILS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the establishment of a permanent full-time equivalent land and access specialist position and a permanent full-time equivalent abstractor position within the Nā Ala Hele program for the protection and expansion of public trail access statewide.  

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Kauai Visitors Bureau, and three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that many residents and visitors utilize and enjoy the trails under the stewardship of the Nā Ala Hele program.  Currently, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is facing a staffing shortage that minimizes the capacity to manage and maintain existing forest recreation resources.  The addition of positions for an abstractor and land and access specialist will expand the Department of Land and Natural Resources' capacity to manage and maintain trails across the State.  With a high volume of visitor traffic at state parks, there is a growing need for maintenance and management of trails to maintain safe conditions for all users.

 

     Additionally, your Committee has heard the concerns of the Department of Land and Natural Resources regarding its ability to manage and maintain existing forest recreation resources. 

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting a blank appropriation to the Department of Land and Natural Resources' operating fund to address trail management and maintenance;

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2022; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1656, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1656, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

 

 

 

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair