THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            55
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A MANAGEMENT AUDIT OF THE
    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.


 1        WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii is a unique place, home to
 2   countless species of endemic and indigenous plant, animal, and
 3   insect species; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, vital to the protection and preservation of these
 6   species is the role of the appointed guardian of the lands upon
 7   which they live; and
 8   
 9        WHEREAS, as the state-appointed guardian of public lands,
10   the Department of Land and Natural Resources is charged with
11   the wide-ranging responsibility to protect, manage, and
12   preserve all lands and activities under its jurisdiction; and
13   
14        WHEREAS, more specifically, under state law, the
15   Department of Land and Natural Resources is charged with the
16   responsibility to "manage, administer, and exercise control
17   over public lands, the water resources, ocean waters, navigable
18   streams, coastal areas (excluding commercial harbor areas), and
19   minerals and all other interests therein and exercise such
20   powers of disposition thereof as may be authorized by law"; and
21   
22        WHEREAS, the Department is also charged with the
23   responsibility to "manage and administer the state parks,
24   historical sites, forests, forest reserves, aquatic life and
25   aquaculture programs, aquatic life sanctuaries, public fishing
26   areas, boating, ocean recreation, and coastal programs,
27   wildlife, wildlife sanctuaries, game management areas, public
28   hunting areas, natural area reserves, and other functions
29   assigned by law"; and
30   
31        WHEREAS, reports by the Auditor over the last seven years
32   regarding the Department of Land and Natural Resources have
33   indicated that the department has not been fully accomplishing
34   its mandated responsibilities; and
35   
36        WHEREAS, the Land Management Division and the Bureau of
37   Conveyances have been the topic of recent criticism with regard
38   to their inefficient handling and processing of work; and

 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            55
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   
 2        WHEREAS, other divisions and operations under the
 3   jurisdiction of the department, such as the Division of Fish
 4   and Wildlife and the Boating and Ocean Recreation Program have
 5   also been subject to scrutiny as well; now, therefore,
 6   
 7        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
 8   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1999, the House of
 9   Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to
10   conduct a management audit of the Department of Land and
11   Natural Resources; and
12   
13        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor determine the
14   degree to which the Department of Land and Natural Resources
15   has been fulfilling its responsibilities as stipulated under
16   Title 12, Hawaii Revised Statutes, other legislative mandates,
17   and any directive or order by the Governor to the department;
18   and
19   
20        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as part of its review, the
21   Auditor examine the Department of Land and Natural Resources'
22   organizational structure, personnel management practices, and
23   performance benchmarking techniques; and
24   
25        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and
26   Natural Resources cooperate with the Auditor in the performance
27   of the audit; and
28   
29        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor submit the
30   findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than
31   twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of
32   2001; and
33   
34        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this
35   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the
36   Board of Land and Natural Resources and to the Auditor.
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40                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________