Hawaii Senate Bill SR83

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/23
• Refer: 3/15/23
• Report Pass: 3/30/23
• Passed: 3/31/23

Caption

Requesting The Task Force On Beach And Water Safety To Resume Convening Regular Meetings As Mandated By Law And Provide A Current Status Report To The Legislature.

Impact

The resolution aims to reinforce the importance of regular communication and updates from the task force regarding the status of beach safety measures. The task force's inactivity has raised questions about how effectively dangerous conditions are being communicated to the public, particularly given the risks of serious injury or drowning at Hawaii’s beaches. SR83 seeks to re-establish oversight of warning protocols and potentially enhance public safety efforts related to beach conditions.

Summary

Senate Resolution 83 (SR83) requests that the Task Force on Beach and Water Safety resume its meetings and provide current reports to the Hawaii Legislature. Established under Act 190 in 1996, this task force was designed to advise on warning signage in public beach parks about dangerous conditions in the ocean, including strong currents and shorebreaks. Despite being a legally mandated entity, the task force has not convened since December 2012, causing concerns regarding public safety and the effectiveness of current warning systems.

Contention

While the resolution highlights the need for ongoing oversight, it contrasts with opinions from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which has suggested that the necessity of the task force has diminished due to new rules outlined in Hawaii's Administrative Rules that adequately govern the placement of warning signage. Legitimacy of concerns surrounding drownings and injuries due to unaddressed ocean hazards remains a point of contention, as some officials believe internal processes have satisfactorily addressed these issues without needing the task force's consultations.