HB953 CD1

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that residents of and visitors to the State often have difficulty finding the application processes necessary to use lands administered by the department of land and natural resources that are publicly available for recreational purposes, including placing a reservation for a state park camping permit or obtaining a freshwater game fishing license to fish for certain species or to fish in certain areas. Commercial operators desiring to enter the market in the State are also frequently confused about the required authorizations, licenses, and permits necessary to operate on areas administered by the department of land and natural resources, leading to a variety of illegal and unauthorized commercial offerings on the lands.

The legislature further finds that to find the information to begin the application process, an individual must navigate from the department of land and natural resources home website through multiple links to find the appropriate division website that contains the desired information and forms to go through the application process. A website that consolidates all of the forms and application processes required by the department of land and natural resources to conduct outdoor recreational and commercial activities in the State will streamline the application processes and be of great benefit to Hawaii's residents, visitors, and commercial operators.

The purpose of this Act is to require and appropriate funds to the department of land and natural resources to develop and publish a website and mobile application that contains the application processes, including a means of collecting any fee, necessary to acquire a permit, license, or reservation to conduct recreational and commercial activities that are regulated by or under the jurisdiction of the department.

SECTION 2. (a) The department of land and natural resources shall develop and publish a website and an accompanying mobile application that includes all online application processes, including a means of collecting any fee, necessary to acquire a permit, license, or reservation needed to conduct recreational and commercial activities in the State that are regulated by or under the jurisdiction of the department, including but not limited to:

(1) Permits for a campsite, cabin, or pavilion;

(2) Licenses and permits to hunt or catch or hatch aquatic life or marine life, as allowed by state and federal law;

(3) Reservations to access certain state parks;

(4) Access, collection, research, and other activities;

(5) Film permits;

(6) Permits to conduct commercial tours;

(7) Permits to conduct boating activities;

(8) Licenses to visit a state-owned park, beach, forest, hiking trail, or other natural area on state land, as designated by rule by the board of land and natural resources; and

(9) Licenses and permits for any other authorized recreational and commercial activities regulated by the department.

(b) The department of land and natural resources shall convert and make available all existing application processes, including forms required by the application process and the acceptance of any fee payments, to acquire a permit, license, or reservation needed to conduct recreational and commercial activities in the State that are regulated by or under the jurisdiction of the department into a digital format to be used in the application processes on the department's website and mobile application established pursuant to subsection (a).

(c) The website and mobile application required under subsection (a) shall be accessible to people with disabilities and available in multiple languages, including but not limited to:

(1) Traditional and simplified Chinese;

(2) Japanese;

(3) Korean; and

(4) Tagalog.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the establishment of a website and mobile application as required pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. 300, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1, will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2023‑2024 to be exceeded by $1,063,767,367 or 10 per cent. In addition, the appropriations contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2023‑2024 to be further exceeded by $1,000,000 or 1 per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2023‑2024 to be exceeded by $1,064,767,367 or 11 per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

Report Title:

Department of Land and Natural Resources; Recreational Activities; Commercial Activities; Permits; Licenses; Reservations; Fees; Website; Mobile Application; Appropriation; Expenditure Ceiling

Description:

Requires DLNR to develop and publish a website and mobile application that includes the application processes, including a means of collecting any fees, for a permit, license, or reservation needed to conduct recreational and commercial activities in the State. Requires DLNR to make available existing application processes in a digital format to be used on the website and mobile application. Appropriates funds for the establishment of the website and mobile application. (CD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	953
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1
		C.D. 1