| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's state parks, state monuments, state recreation areas, and wilderness parks are beautiful natural resources that attract a high volume of visitors and residents annually. These natural attractions are foundational to the economic stability and vitality of the State's economy. However, funds to maintain and care for these resources are insufficient to preserve, maintain, and enhance these sites. The legislature finds that in general, the State allocates less than one per cent of its overall budget to protect, maintain, and sustain state parks, state monuments, state recreation areas, and wilderness parks. The legislature also finds that the department of land and natural resources is tasked with regulating seven hundred fifty miles of coastline, 1.3 million acres of public lands, and three million acres of ocean throughout the Hawaiian islands. It is therefore essential for the department of land and natural resources to have funds to improve the current conditions of parks, monuments, recreation areas, and wilderness parks under its authority; enforce its rules and regulations; provide adequate care for these resources; and address ongoing areas of concern, such as general repairs, utility work, illegal camping, graffiti, and vandalism. The legislature further finds that recently, the increase in user fees at Diamond Head State Monument has proven to be significantly profitable and beneficial to provide needed revenue to protect this natural resource. Another successful endeavor has occurred at Haena state park, where advance reservations are required for all vehicles, walk-in entries, shuttle riders, and hikers. The legislature finds that it is necessary and prudent for the State to explore how the department of land and natural resources can expand these types of revenue-generating and management systems so that Hawaii's state parks, state monuments, state recreation areas, and wilderness parks can be enhanced for residents and visitors alike and for economic self-sustainability. The purpose of this Act is to require the department of land and natural resources to conduct a feasibility study on a revenue-generating and management system of user fees for Hawaii's state parks. SECTION 2. (a) The department of land and natural resources shall conduct a feasibility study on a revenue-generating and management system of user fees for Hawaii's state parks. (b) The feasibility study shall include: (1) An analysis of the potential benefits to the State from establishing and implementing a system of nonresident user fees and fees derived from advance reservations from state park users; (2) The projected number of nonresident visitors to each state park annually based on a system of nonresident user fees and advance reservations; (3) Based on an examination of state park models of other states that have been effective at generating revenue for their state parks from park user fees and other revenue enhancements, recommendations of what systems and methods would be feasible for implementation by the department of land and natural resources for Hawaii's state parks; (4) A list of all state parks and whether each state park could reasonably incorporate a revenue-generating and management system. If the department of land and natural resources determines that such a system is not feasible or appropriate, then the department shall include the rationale for its determination in the feasibility study; and (5) The estimated cost to implement each of the recommended systems or methods. (c) The department of land and natural resources shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's state parks, state monuments, state recreation areas, and wilderness parks are beautiful natural resources that attract a high volume of visitors and residents annually. These natural attractions are foundational to the economic stability and vitality of the State's economy. However, funds to maintain and care for these resources are insufficient to preserve, maintain, and enhance these sites. The legislature finds that in general, the State allocates less than one per cent of its overall budget to protect, maintain, and sustain state parks, state monuments, state recreation areas, and wilderness parks. The legislature also finds that the department of land and natural resources is tasked with regulating seven hundred fifty miles of coastline, 1.3 million acres of public lands, and three million acres of ocean throughout the Hawaiian Islands. It is therefore essential for the department of land and natural resources to have funds to improve the current conditions of parks, monuments, recreation areas, and wilderness parks under its authority; enforce its rules and regulations; provide adequate care to benefit these resources; and address ongoing areas of concern, such as general repairs, utility work, illegal camping, graffiti, and vandalism. The legislature further finds that recently, the increase in user fees at Diamond Head State Monument has proven to be significantly profitable and beneficial to provide needed revenue to protect this natural resource. Another successful endeavor has occurred at Haena State Park, where advanced reservations are required for all vehicles, walk in entries, shuttle riders, and hikers. The legislature finds that it is necessary and prudent for the State to explore how the department of land and natural resources can expand these types of revenue generating and management systems so that Hawaii's state parks, state monuments, state recreation areas, and wilderness parks can be enhanced for residents and visitors alike and for economic self-sustainment. The purpose of this Act is to require the department of land and natural resources to conduct a feasibility study on a revenue generating and management system of user fees for Hawaii's state parks. SECTION 2. (a) The department of land and natural resources shall conduct a feasibility study on a revenue generating and management system of user fees for Hawaii's state parks. (b) The feasibility study shall include: (1) An analysis of the potential benefits to the State from establishing and implementing a system of nonresident user fees and fees derived from advanced reservations from state park users; (2) The projected number of nonresident visitors to each state park annually based on a system of nonresident user fees and advanced reservations; (3) Based on examination of state park models of other states that have been effective at generating revenue for their state parks from park user fees and other revenue enhancements, recommendations of what systems and methods would be feasible for implementation by the department of land and natural resources for Hawaii's state parks; (4) A list of all state parks and whether each state park could reasonably incorporate a revenue generating and management system. If the department of land and natural resources determines that such a system is not feasible or appropriate, then the department shall include the rationale for its determination in the feasibility study; and (5) The estimated cost to implement each of the recommended systems or methods. (c) The department of land and natural resources shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ |
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