Department of Land and Natural Resources - Other Initiatives

HB1131, SB949: RELATING TO RECREATIONAL RENAISSANCE
Creates a five-year, $240 million visionary plan to restore and improve our current State parks, trails, and ocean recreational areas.  Also creates Keehi Lagoon Triangle, a new 119 acre mixed-use light industrial and ocean recreational island with marinas, canoe facilities and beach parks.

HB1132, SB950: RELATING TO ELECTRIC GUNS
Allows natural resources enforcement officers and law enforcement officers in the Department of Public Safety to use electric guns, also referred to as tasers, after receiving certified training.

HB1133, SB951: RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCE VIOLATIONS
Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to impose civil, criminal, and administrative penalties for illegal activities in public parks, trails, fishing zones, and conservation areas, and permits use of these funds to restore the damage done as well as increase public awareness.

HB1134, SB952: RELATING TO RIGHTS OF INSPECTION FOR AQUATIC LIFE
Authorizes State enforcement officers to inspect the contents of coolers, containers, boats, and vehicles for compliance with state fishing laws. 

HB1135, SB953: RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES FOR THE DAMAGING OR BREAKING OF STONY CORAL AND LIVE ROCK 
Allows the State to access administrative penalties for damage or breakage of stony coral and live rock on a per square meter basis and imposes a fine of up to $5,000 for each specimen of endangered aquatic life that is taken, killed or injured.

HB1136, SB954: RELATING TO PHOTOGRAPHS OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS
Amends the current requirement to provide archival photographs of buildings more that 50 years old to those with historic integrity that may be eligible for listing on the State or national registers of historic places.

HB1137, SB955: RELATING TO FILINGS IN THE BUREAU OF CONVEYANCES
Expedites government functions by allowing the Bureau of Conveyances to accept electronic documents and electronic signatures for land recordation transactions.

HB1138, SB956: RELATING TO COPIES IN THE BUREAU OF CONVEYANCES
Allows the Bureau of Conveyances to modernize by permitting them to store documents in electronic format rather than the current restriction that they must microfilm all land-related paperwork.

HB1139, SB957: RELATING TO THE LAND COURT SYSTEM
Removes land transactions involving time-share units from the jurisdiction of the Land Court and gives time-share owners the option of using the simpler, less-expensive Bureau of Conveyance system.

HB1140, SB958: RELATING TO LAND FAILURE 
Requires counties to adopt ordinances that require a property subject to rockfall or landslide hazards to conduct a slope study and implement mitigation measures before the property is subdivided or built on.

HB1141, SB959: RELATING TO THRILL CRAFT OPERATION
Allows government personnel such as lifeguards and enforcement officers to operate thrill craft, also known as jet-skis, in non-designated areas to carry out their duties.  Also authorizes film productions to operate these craft when properly permitted in advance of the filming.

HB1142, SB960: RELATING TO ABANDONED VESSELS
Clarifies that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is responsible for disposing of vessels abandoned on waters and lands under its jurisdiction but not boats abandoned on public streets.

HB1143, SB961: RELATING TO HUNTING
Allows the Department of Land and Natural Resources to make changes in hunting season conditions, such as size and catch limits, without going through formal rule-making.

HB1144, SB962: RELATING TO CONSERVATION OF THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
Allows the State to enter into agreements with multiple private landowners to protect entire ecosystems, also called safe harbor agreements, rather than negotiating individual agreements with each landowner.

HB1145, SB963: RELATING TO REMNANT LANDS
Allows the sale of remnant land parcels to an abutting landowner even though the combination of the two parcels may not equal the standard lot size set by the county for that neighborhood, allowing the landowner to care for the remnant parcel.