Bill Text: HI HB2585 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Ocean Safety.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-06 - The committee(s) on TOU recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HB2585 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-HB2585-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2585 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO OCEAN SAFETY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that promoting ocean safety and expanding the availability of lifeguards to cover our beaches is an important and critical need not only for our local residents but especially for the visitor industry. Statistics show that the rate of drowning at a beach with a lifeguard present is one in eighteen million swims while unmonitored beaches have a much higher rate of drowning incidences. Recently, the county of Maui was asked to move lifeguard facilities from a county park to the beach area in front of hotels in order to address the one-hundred eighty-one drowning deaths by visitors in the area. This instance highlighted the need for the State to support the visitor industry by expanding lifeguard services to these beaches frequented by visitors and locals alike.
Just recently another visitor died of drowning, making news headlines and highlighting the need for more ocean lifesaving resources and ocean training awareness by visitors.
The legislature further finds that drowning incidents such as these have a negative effect on the view of Hawaii as a safe destination for visitors and lead to the need for substantially more resources to help potential visitors reconsider Hawaii as a safe destination.
The legislature finds that instead of directing more moneys to marketing to offset the impact of drowning incidents, a better investment is to use funds to expand lifeguard towers, personnel, and equipment to expand the reach and coverage of lifeguard services so that visitors can safely enjoy the ocean no matter where they choose to swim, dive, or surf.
The purpose of this Act is to require tourism special fund moneys to be made available to support state and county ocean safety programs.
SECTION 2. Section 201B-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
"(c) Moneys in the tourism special fund shall be used by the authority for the purposes of this chapter, provided that:
(1) Not
more than 3.5 per cent of this amount shall be used for administrative
expenses, including $15,000 for a protocol fund to be expended at the
discretion of the president and chief executive officer; [and]
(2) At
least $1,000,000 shall be made available to support efforts to manage, improve,
and protect Hawaii's natural environment and areas frequented by visitors[.];
and
(3) At least per cent shall be made available to support state and county ocean safety programs, including but not limited to, infrastructure and equipment, such as lifeguard towers, swim buoys, and video cameras; staffing and operation costs; and education and visitor awareness."
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.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Hawaii Tourism Authority; Ocean Safety Programs
Description:
Requires tourism special fund moneys to be made available to support state and county ocean safety programs.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
