| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the division of state parks of the department of land and natural resources oversees and has jurisdiction over fifty park units encompassing thirty thousand acres throughout the State, which are composed of some of the State's most sought after and cherished natural, cultural, and historical resources. The state park system offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation and cultural heritage features ranging from landscaped grounds with facilities to scenic beaches and wildland areas with rustic camping and hiking opportunities. These park units enable residents and visitors to connect with nature and experience Hawaii's unique history. The legislature further finds that with only one hundred twenty-eight positions for staffing, the state park system is the least staffed park system in the United States and in the bottom six state park systems in terms of funding, even though it is in the top twenty in terms of parks patronized by recreational users and visitors. Furthermore, social media and outdoor trends are increasing visits to state parks, adding greater impact and demand on aging infrastructure and fragile natural and cultural resources, and taxing the very limited capacity of inadequate staffing. During the brief hiatus of public use during the COVID-19 pandemic due to closures in 2020, the state parks system increased parking, entry, camping, and lodging fees. The parking and entry fee increases are currently applied to out-of-state visitors at nine state parks. With the robust return of visitor arrivals in 2021, combined with other park revenue sources, revenue from state parks is expected to exceed $12,000,000 by the end of fiscal year 2022. The legislature also finds that the expenditure ceiling for the state parks special fund in fiscal year 2021 is $93,312. The purpose of this Act is to increase the state parks special fund expenditure ceiling to $12,000,000 by appropriating funds from the special fund to reinvest the revenue derived from out-of-state visitors into the state park system to improve the quality of maintenance, management, and public safety and to be more responsive with repairs and maintenance associated with the impacts of visitation and authorized and illicit uses. SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the state parks special fund the sum of $12,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the purposes authorized under section 184-3.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the division of state parks of the department of land and natural resources oversees and has jurisdiction over fifty park units encompassing thirty thousand acres throughout the State, which are composed of some of the State's most sought after and cherished natural, cultural, and historical resources. The state park system offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation and cultural heritage features ranging from landscaped grounds with facilities to scenic beaches and wildland areas with rustic camping and hiking opportunities. These park units enable residents and visitors to connect with nature and experience Hawaii's unique history. The legislature further finds that with only one hundred twenty-eight positions for staffing, the state park system is the least staffed park system in the United States, in the bottom six state park systems in terms of funding, even though it is in the top twenty in terms of parks patronized by recreational users and visitors. Furthermore, social media and outdoor trends are increasing patronage to state parks, adding greater impact and demand on aging infrastructure and fragile natural and cultural resources, and taxing the very limited capacity of inadequate staffing. During the brief hiatus of public use during the COVID-19 pandemic due to closures in 2020, the state parks system increased parking, entry, camping, and lodging fees. The parking and entry fee increases are currently applied to out-of-state visitors at nine state parks. With the robust return of visitor arrivals in 2021, combined with other park revenue sources, revenue from state parks is expected to exceed $12,000,000 by the end of fiscal year 2022. The legislature also finds that the expenditure ceiling for the state parks special fund in fiscal year 2021 is $93,312. The purpose of this Act is to increase the state parks special fund ceiling to $12,000,000 by appropriating funds from the special fund to reinvest the revenue derived from out-of-state visitors into the state park system to improve the quality of maintenance, management, and public safety and to be more responsive with repairs and maintenance associated with the impacts of visitation and authorized and illicit uses. SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the state parks special fund the sum of $12,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the purposes authorized under section 184-3.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ |
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