Bill Text: HI HB1149 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Land Use.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-07-02 - Act 153, on 07/01/2021 (Gov. Msg. No. 1255). [HB1149 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2021-HB1149-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1149 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to land use.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that achieving an abundant and sustainable future for Hawaii will require re-envisioning the State's institutional framework to better integrate sustainability principles into the organizational structure of state government, especially in planning, land use, environmental, and economic development programs.
Improved collaboration of state agencies is necessary to achieve the State's sustainability goals and clean energy benchmarks. The legislature further finds that improved integration of land use planning and environmental policy decision-making will enhance state government agencies' ability to implement climate change adaptation measures to address sea level rise and more frequent and intense storm events, and climate change mitigation measures such as increasing clean energy production and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Therefore, the legislature finds that it is in the public interest to consolidate various government land use functions of different agencies into a new structure under an office of planning and sustainable development in an effort to place all key decision-making and regulatory responsibility surrounding land use planning and permitting under one structure.
The purpose of this Act is to integrate the land use commission within a modified office of planning, to be renamed the office of planning and sustainable development. The legislature notes that a separate Act will integrate the office of environmental quality control within the office of planning and sustainable development. These two Acts will improve the coordination of these related functions so state government can work more efficiently to achieve the State's long-term sustainability and climate change goals for a more abundant future for the people of Hawaii.
SECTION 2. Section 26-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) The following are placed in the department of
business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes as
defined by section 26-35: Hawaii
community development authority, Hawaii housing finance and development
corporation, Hawaii technology development corporation, [land use
commission,] natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority, office of planning
and sustainable development, and any other boards and commissions as shall
be provided by law."
SECTION 3. Section 201-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§201-2 General objective,
functions, and duties of department.
[[(a)]] It shall be the objective of the
department of business, economic development, and tourism to make broad policy
determinations with respect to economic development in the State and to
stimulate through research and demonstration projects those industrial and
economic development efforts that offer the most immediate promise of expanding
the economy of the State. The department
shall endeavor to gain an understanding of those functions and activities of
other governmental agencies and of private agencies that relate to the field of
economic development. It shall, at all
times, encourage initiative and creative thinking in harmony with the
objectives of the department.
[[(b)] The department of business, economic
development, and tourism shall have sole jurisdiction over the land use
commission under chapter 205, state planning under chapter 225M, and the Hawaii
State Planning Act under chapter 226.
Due to the inherently interdependent functions of development, planning,
and land use, these functions shall not be transferred by executive order,
directive, or memorandum, to any other department, nor shall these functions be
subject to review or approval by any other department.]"
SECTION 4. Section 205-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§205-1
Establishment of the commission.
[[](a)[]] There
shall be a state land use commission, hereinafter called the commission. The commission shall consist of nine members
who shall hold no other public office and shall be appointed in the manner and
serve for the term set forth in section 26-34. One member shall be appointed from each of the
counties and the remainder shall be appointed at large; provided that one
member shall have substantial experience or expertise in traditional Hawaiian
land usage and knowledge of cultural land practices. The commission shall elect its chairperson
from one of its members. The members
shall receive no compensation for their services on the commission, but shall
be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties. Six affirmative votes shall be
necessary for any boundary amendment.
[[](b)[]] The commission shall be a part of the [department
of business, economic development, and tourism] office of planning and sustainable
development for [administration] administrative purposes[,
as provided for in section 26-35].
[[](c)[]] The commission may engage employees necessary
to perform its duties, including administrative personnel and an executive
officer. The executive officer shall be
appointed by the commission and the executive officer's position shall be
exempt from civil service. Departments
of the state government shall make available to the commission such data,
facilities, and personnel as are necessary for it to perform its duties. The commission may receive and utilize gifts
and any funds from the federal or other governmental agencies. It shall adopt rules guiding its conduct,
maintain a record of its activities and accomplishments, and make
recommendations to the governor and to the legislature through the governor.
(d) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the commission
shall be exempt from section 26-35 with the exception of 26-35(a)(2), (3), (7),
(8), and subsection (b) shall apply.
(e) The land use commission shall maintain its independence on matters coming before it to which the office of planning and sustainable development is a party by establishing and adhering to the process required by section 225M-2(d)."
SECTION 5. Section 205-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§205-18 [Periodic review]
Review of districts. The
office of planning [shall] and sustainable development may
undertake a review of the classification and districting of all lands in the
State[, within five years from December 31, 1985, and every fifth year
thereafter]. The office, in its [five-year]
boundary review, shall focus its efforts on reviewing the Hawaii state plan,
county general plans, and county development and community plans. Upon completion of the [five-year] boundary
review, the office shall submit a report of the findings to the commission[.],
governor, legislature, and appropriate state and county agencies. The office may initiate state land use
boundary amendments which it deems appropriate to conform to these plans. The office may seek assistance of appropriate
state and county agencies and may employ consultants and undertake studies in
making this review."
SECTION 6. Section 225M-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§225M-1 Purpose. (a) The purpose of this chapter is to establish an
office of planning and sustainable development to assist the governor [and
the director of business, economic development, and tourism], the legislature,
and state and county agencies in maintaining an overall framework to guide
the development of the State through a continuous process of comprehensive,
long-range, and strategic planning to meet the physical, economic, and social
needs of Hawaii's people, and provide for the wise use of Hawaii's resources in
a coordinated, efficient, and economical manner, including the conservation of
those natural, environmental, recreational, scenic, historic, and other limited
and irreplaceable resources which are required for future generations.
The establishment of an office of planning and sustainable development in the department of business, economic development, and tourism, for administrative purposes, is intended to:
(1) Fix responsibility and accountability to successfully carry out statewide planning programs, policies, and priorities;
(2) Improve the efficiency
and effectiveness of the operations of the executive branch; and
(3) Ensure comprehensive planning and coordination to enhance the quality of life of the people of Hawaii.
(b) The office of planning and sustainable development shall have sole jurisdiction over state planning under chapter 225M, and the Hawaii State Planning Act under chapter 226. Due to the inherently interdependent functions of development, planning, and land use, these functions shall not be transferred by executive order, directive, or memorandum to any other department, nor shall these functions be subject to review or approval by any other department."
SECTION 7. Section 225M-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§225M-2 Office of planning[,]
and sustainable development, establishment; responsibilities. (a)
There is established the office of planning and sustainable development
within the department of business, economic development, and tourism an office
of planning[.] for administrative purposes only. The head of the office shall be known as the
director of the office of planning[,] and sustainable development,
referred to in this chapter as director. The director shall serve as a member of the
governor's cabinet and have: [training]
(1) Training in
the field of urban or regional planning, public administration, or other
related fields; [experience]
(2) Experience
in programs or services related to governmental planning; and [experience]
(3) Experience in a supervisory, consultative, or administrative capacity.
The director shall be nominated by the
governor and, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appointed by
the governor without regard to chapter 76, and shall be compensated at a salary
level set by the governor. The director
shall be included in any benefit program generally applicable to the officers
and employees of the State. The director
[shall] may retain [such] staff as may be necessary for
the purposes of this chapter, in conformity with chapter 76. [The director shall report to the director
of business, economic development, and tourism and shall not be required to
report directly to any other principal executive department.] The director may also employ staff without regard
to chapter 76, as authorized in this chapter and as may be necessary.
(b) The office of planning and sustainable development
shall gather, analyze, and provide information to the governor, the legislature,
and state and county agencies to assist in the overall analysis and formulation
of state policies and strategies to provide central direction and cohesion in
the allocation of resources and effectuation of state activities and programs
and effectively address current or emerging issues and opportunities. More specifically, the office shall engage in
the following activities:
(1) State comprehensive planning and program
coordination. Formulating and
articulating comprehensive statewide goals, objectives, policies, and priorities,
and coordinating their implementation through the statewide planning system
established in part II of chapter 226;
(2) Strategic planning. Identifying and analyzing significant issues,
problems, and opportunities confronting the State, and formulating strategies
and alternative courses of action in response to identified problems and
opportunities by:
(A) Providing in-depth policy research, analysis,
and recommendations on existing or potential areas of critical state concern;
(B) Examining and evaluating the effectiveness of
state programs in implementing state policies and priorities;
(C) Monitoring [through surveys, environmental
scanning, and other techniques—current] current social, economic, and
physical conditions and trends[;] through surveys, environmental scanning,
and other techniques; and
(D) Developing, in collaboration with affected
public or private agencies and organizations, implementation plans and
schedules and, where appropriate, assisting in the mobilization of resources to
meet identified needs;
(3) Planning coordination and cooperation. Facilitating coordinated and cooperative
planning and policy development and implementation activities among state
agencies and between the state, county, and federal governments, by:
(A) Reviewing, assessing, and coordinating, as necessary,
major plans, programs, projects, and regulatory activities existing or proposed
by state and county agencies;
(B) Formulating mechanisms to simplify,
streamline, or coordinate interagency development and regulatory processes; and
(C) Recognizing the presence of federal defense
and security forces and agencies in the State as important state concerns;
(4) Statewide planning and geographic information
system. Collecting, integrating, analyzing,
maintaining, and disseminating various forms of data and information, including
geospatial data and information, to further effective state planning, policy analysis
and development, and delivery of government services by:
(A) Collecting, assembling, organizing, evaluating,
and classifying existing geospatial and non-geospatial data and performing
necessary basic research, conversions, and integration to provide a common
database for governmental planning and geospatial analyses by state agencies;
(B) Planning, coordinating, and maintaining a comprehensive,
shared statewide planning and geographic information system and associated
geospatial database. The office shall be
the lead agency responsible for coordinating the maintenance of the multi-agency,
statewide planning and geographic information system and coordinating, collecting,
integrating, and disseminating geospatial data sets that are used to support a
variety of state agency applications and other spatial data analyses to enhance
decision-making. The office shall
promote and encourage free and open data sharing among and between all
government agencies. To ensure the
maintenance of a comprehensive, accurate, up-to-date geospatial data resource
that can be drawn upon for decision-making related to essential public policy
issues such as land use planning, resource management, homeland security, and
the overall health, safety, and well-being of Hawaii's citizens, and to avoid
redundant data development efforts, state agencies shall provide to the shared
system either their respective geospatial databases or, at a minimum,
especially in cases of secure or confidential data sets that cannot be shared
or must be restricted, metadata describing existing geospatial data. In cases where agencies provide restricted
data, the office of planning and sustainable development shall ensure
the security of that data; and
(C) Maintaining a centralized depository of state
and national planning references;
(5) Land use planning. Developing and presenting the position of the
State in all boundary change petitions and proceedings before the land use
commission[,] and assisting state agencies in the development and
submittal of petitions for land use district boundary amendments, and
conducting periodic reviews of the classification and districting of all lands
in the State, as specified in chapter 205;
(6) Coastal and ocean policy management, and sea
level rise adaptation coordination.
Carrying out the lead agency responsibilities for the Hawaii coastal
zone management [program,] division, as specified in chapter 205A. Also:
(A) Developing and maintaining an ocean and coastal resources information, planning, and management system;
(B) Further developing and coordinating implementation of the ocean resources management plan; and
(C) Formulating ocean policies with respect to the exclusive economic zone, coral reefs, and national marine sanctuaries;
(7) Regional planning and studies. Conducting plans and studies to determine:
(A) The capability of various regions within the
State to support projected increases in both resident populations and visitors;
(B) The potential physical, social, economic, and
environmental impact on these regions resulting from increases in both resident
populations and visitors;
(C) The maximum annual visitor carrying capacity
for the State by region, county, and island; and
(D) The appropriate guidance and management of
selected regions and areas of statewide critical concern.
The
studies in subparagraphs (A) to (C) shall be conducted at appropriate
intervals, but not less than once every five years;
(8) Regional, national, and international planning. Participating in and ensuring that state
plans, policies, and objectives are consistent, to the extent practicable, with
regional, national, and international planning efforts;
(9) Climate adaptation
and sustainability planning and coordination. [Conducting] Acting as the lead agency
to coordinate, conduct plans and studies, and [preparing] prepare
reports as follows:
(A) Develop, monitor, and evaluate strategic climate adaptation plans and actionable policy recommendations for the State and counties addressing expected statewide climate change impacts identified under chapter 225P and sections 226-108 and 226-109; and
(B) Provide planning and policy guidance and assistance to state and county agencies regarding climate change and sustainability; and
(10) Smart growth and transit-oriented development. Acting as the lead agency to coordinate and advance smart growth and transit-oriented development planning within the State as follows:
(A) Identify transit-oriented development opportunities shared between state and county agencies, including relevant initiatives such as the department of health's healthy Hawaii initiative and the Hawaii clean energy initiative;
(B) Refine
the definition of "transit-oriented development" in the context of Hawaii,
while recognizing the potential for smart growth development patterns in all
locations;
(C) Clarify state goals for transit-oriented
development and smart growth that support the principles of the Hawaii State
Planning Act by preserving non-urbanized land, improving worker access to jobs,
and reducing fuel consumption;
(D) Target transit-oriented development
areas for significant increase in affordable housing and rental units;
(E) Conduct
outreach to state agencies to help educate state employees about the ways they
can support and benefit from transit-oriented
development and the State's smart growth goals;
(F) Publicize coordinated state efforts that
support smart growth, walkable neighborhoods, and transit-oriented development;
(G) Review state land use decision-making processes
to identify ways to make transit-oriented development a higher priority and
facilitate better and more proactive leadership in creating walkable communities
and employment districts, even if transit will only be provided at a later date;
and
(H) Approve all state agencies' development plans for parcels along the rail transit corridor. For the purposes of this subparagraph, "development plans" means conceptual land use plans that identify the location and planned uses within a defined area.
(c) The office shall consist of the following planning
and coordination divisions and programs:
(1) The coastal zone
management division;
(2) The economic development
planning program;
(3) The Hawaii geographic
information system;
(4) The land use division;
and
(5) The statewide sustainability
division.
(d) The land use commission's executive officer, chief
clerk, and employees shall be administratively attached to the office and the provisions
of section 205-1(c) shall apply.
(e) The office of planning and sustainable development
and the land use commission shall establish procedures and safeguards to avoid actual
or perceived conflicts of interest that may otherwise arise as a result of any proceedings
before the land use commission to which the office of planning and sustainable development
is a party, including but not limited to petitions for amendments to district boundaries
involving land areas greater than fifteen acres pursuant to section 205-4, and contested
case proceedings pursuant to section 205-19. These procedures and safeguards shall include a
reporting structure for the land use commission and its executive director and employees
that is separate from the reporting structure for the land use division of the office."
SECTION 8. Section 225M-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§225M-8[]] Statewide sustainability [branch;]
division; established. The
statewide sustainability [branch] division is established within
the office of planning. The state sustainability
coordinator shall serve as the administrator of the [branch.] division.
The [branch] division
shall have the following duties:
(1) Develop, organize,
and promote policies and programs that assist in the meeting of Hawaii's
numerous sustainability and climate policies and goals, and the priority
guidelines and principles to promote sustainability set forth in section
226-108;
(2) Identify, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding proposed legislation, regulatory changes, or policy modifications to the governor, the legislature, government agencies, private entities, and other bodies for the purpose of encouraging activities that best sustain, protect, and enhance the quality of the environment, economy, and community for the present and future benefit of the people of Hawaii; and
(3) Develop and promote proposals that jointly and mutually enhance local economies, the environment, and community well-being for the present and future benefit of the people of Hawaii."
SECTION 9. Sections 4E-1, 6K-6,
195-6, 200D-2, 201-102, 205-4, 205-6, 205-47, 205-48, 205-49, 205-50, 205A-1, 214-4,
223-2, 223-3, 225M-3, 225M-4, 225P-3, 225P-4, 225P-6, 226-2, 226-53, 226-56, 226-59,
226-64, 226-65, and 279A-4,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, are amended by substituting the phrase "office of planning and
sustainable development",
or similar term, wherever the phrase "office of planning", or similar term, appears, as the context requires.
SECTION 10. Sections 205A-1, 205A-2,
205A-3, 205A-3.5, 205A-4, 225P-3, and 226-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are
amended by substituting the phrase "coastal zone management division", or similar term, wherever
the phrase "coastal
zone management program",
or similar term, appears, as the context requires.
SECTION 11. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 12. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 13. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Land Use; Planning; Permitting; Land Use Commission; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Reorganization
Description:
Reorganizes and integrates the land use commission within a modified office of planning, which is renamed as the office of planning and sustainable development. Reclassifies the coastal zone management program and statewide sustainability branch as divisions within the office of planning and sustainable development.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
