HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

848

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE HAWAII INSTITUTE FOR MARINE BIOLOGY.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the Hawaii institute for marine biology is a center of innovation for science and technology, place-based education, and indigenous resource management approaches, with a mission to advance understanding and stewardship of oceans and coasts locally and globally.

     The Hawaii institute for marine biology hosts a world-class research and education institute that, at present, is critically understaffed, even though it is one of the most complex research operations at the University of Hawaii, with responsibilities for maintaining its own entire island infrastructure; overseeing a marine special management area; managing its own national pollutant discharge elimination system permit with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Hawaii department of health; managing its own photovoltaic power purchase agreement; running its own diving and boating programs; and maintaining all of its own facilities, grounds, and utilities.  The institute is home to twenty-eight faculty who are all highly productive and well-recognized for their excellence in various disciplines of tropical marine biology and education, making it unlike almost any other marine lab in the world due to the proximity of high-end research facilities to a living coral reef and a dedicated faculty of scientists and science educators.

     The legislature further finds that the Hawaii institute for marine biology's twenty-six acre campus and associated facilities bring in nearly $9,000,000 in research, education, and outreach funds annually.  The programs at the institute, which provide direct benefits to local students and the State, are dependent on having permanent support staff that possess the institutional knowledge to efficiently navigate the processes of the State and University of Hawaii.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish new permanent support staff positions that are critical to sustaining daily operations for the initiatives at the Hawaii institute for marine biology.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent building maintenance worker II position to support the Hawaii institute for marine biology.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent administrative officer position to support the Hawaii institute for marine biology.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent website specialist position to support the Hawaii institute for marine biology.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000.

 

 

Report Title:

Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology; University of Hawaii; Support Staff; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for three support staff positions for the Hawaii institute for marine biology.  Effective 6/30/3000.  (HD2)

 

 

 

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