Report Title:
Burial Sites
Description:
Authorizes the DLNR to execute mitigation plans for the landowner, permittee, or developer, on request, for inadvertent discovery of burial sites.(HB444 HD1)
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
444 |
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TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO BURIAL SITES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 6E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§6E-3 Historic preservation program. There is established within the department a division to administer a comprehensive historic preservation program, which shall include but not be limited to the following:
(1) Development of an on-going program of historical, architectural, and archaeological research and development, including surveys, excavations, scientific recording, interpretation, and publications on the State's historical and cultural resources;
(2) Acquisition of historic or cultural properties, real or personal, in fee or in any lesser interest, by gift, purchase, condemnation, devise, bequest, land exchange, or other means; preservation, restoration, administration, or transference of the property; and the charging of reasonable admissions to that property;
(3) Development of a statewide survey and inventory to identify and document historic properties, aviation artifacts, and burial sites, including all those owned by the State and the counties;
(4) Preparation of information for the Hawaii register of historic places and listing on the national register of historic places;
(5) Preparation, review, and revisions of a state historic preservation plan, including budget requirements and land use recommendations;
(6) Application for and receipt of gifts, grants, technical assistance, and other funding from public and private sources for the purposes of this chapter;
(7) Provision of technical and financial assistance to the counties and public and private agencies involved in historic preservation activities;
(8) Coordination of activities of the counties in accordance with the state plan for historic preservation;
(9) Stimulation of public interest in historic preservation, including the development and implementation of interpretive programs for historic properties listed on or eligible for the Hawaii register of historic places;
(10) Coordination of the evaluation and management of burial sites as provided in section 6E-43;
(11) Acquisition of burial sites in fee or in any lesser interest, by gift, purchase, condemnation, devise, bequest, land exchange, or other means, to be held in trust;
(12) Submittal of an annual report to the governor and legislature detailing the accomplishments of the year, recommendations for changes in the state plan or future programs relating to historic preservation, and an accounting of all income, expenditures, and the fund balance of the Hawaii historic preservation special fund;
(13) Regulation of archaeological activities throughout the State;
(14) Employment of sufficient professional and technical staff for the purposes of this chapter without regard to chapters 76 and 77;
(15) The charging of fees to at least partially defray the costs of administering sections 6E-3(13), 6E-8, [and] 6E-42, and 6E-43.6 [of this chapter];
(16) Adoption of rules in accordance with chapter 91[,] necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter; and
(17) Development and adoption, in consultation with the office of Hawaiian affairs native historic preservation council, of rules governing permits for access by native Hawaiians and Hawaiians to cultural, historic, and pre-contact sites and monuments."
SECTION 2. Section 6E-43.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§6E-43.6[]] Inadvertent discovery of burial sites. (a) In the event human skeletal remains are inadvertently discovered, any activity in the immediate area that could damage the remains or the potential historic site shall cease until the requirements of subsections (b) to (d) have been met.
(b) The discovery shall be reported as soon as possible to the department, the appropriate medical examiner or coroner, and the appropriate police department. As soon as practicable, the department shall notify the appropriate council and the office of Hawaiian affairs.
(c) After notification of the discovery of multiple skeletons, the following shall be done within two working days, if on Oahu, and three working days, if in other council jurisdictions:
(1) A representative of the medical examiner or coroner's office and a qualified archaeologist shall examine the remains to determine jurisdiction. If the remains are the responsibility of the medical examiner or coroner, the department's involvement shall end. If the remains are historic or prehistoric burials, then the remainder of this section shall apply;
(2) The department shall gather sufficient information, including oral tradition, to document the nature of the burial context and determine appropriate treatment of the remains. Members of the appropriate council shall be allowed to oversee the on-site examination and, if warranted, removal; and
(3) If removal of the remains is warranted, based on criteria developed by the department, in consultation with the councils, office of Hawaiian affairs, representatives of development and large property owner interests, and appropriate Hawaiian organizations, such as Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai`i Nei, through rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91, the removal of the remains shall be overseen by a qualified archaeologist and a mitigation plan shall be prepared by the department or with the concurrence of the department.
(d) In cases involving the discovery of a single skeleton, the requirements of subsection (c) shall be fulfilled in one working day if on Oahu, and two working days if in other council jurisdictions.
(e) The mitigation plan developed by or with the concurrence of the department pursuant to subsection (c)(3) shall be carried out in accordance with the following:
(1) In discoveries related to development where land alteration project activities exist, the landowner, permittee, or developer shall be responsible for the execution of the mitigation plan including relocation of remains[. Justifiable delays resulting from the discovery of burials shall not count against any contractor's completion date agreement];
(2) Project activities shall resume once necessary archaeological excavations provided in the mitigation plan have been completed;
(3) In nonproject contexts, the department shall be responsible for the execution of the mitigation plan and the relocation of remains; and
(4) The department shall verify the successful execution of the mitigation plan.
(f) Where the department determines it to be appropriate, the department may execute the mitigation plan for the landowner, permittee, or developer, upon request by the landowner, permittee, or developer; provided that the landowner, permittee, or developer has solicited bids from at least two other prequalified archaeological firms qualified to implement the mitigation plan. The department may charge a fee for execution of the mitigation plan. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, which shall set forth procedures for the department to execute the mitigation plan and to provide a schedule of fees for execution of the mitigation plan.
(g) Justifiable delays resulting from the discovery of burials shall not count against any contractor's completion date agreement.
[(f)] (h) In cases where remains are archaeologically removed, the department shall determine the place of relocation, after consultation with the appropriate council, affected property owners, representatives of the relevant ethnic group, and any identified lineal descendants, as appropriate. Relocation shall conform with requirements imposed by the department of health, and may be accompanied by traditional ceremonies, as determined by the lineal descendants, or, if no lineal descendants are identified, the appropriate council or representatives of the relevant ethnic group that the department deems appropriate. Specific or special reinterment requests from lineal or cultural descendants may be accommodated provided that the additional expenses incurred are paid by the affected descendants."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.