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SB2974
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
2974
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to the ocean recreation special fund
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that Hawaii's ocean
waters and the marine resources contained within are some of the State's most
ecologically, economically, and culturally valuable environmental assets.
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The rising popularity of marine ecotourism
combined with the growing threats of climate change threaten the overall health
of Hawaii's marine ecosystems.
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Accordingly, to protect Hawaii's coastal waters, the legislature passed
Act 46, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, to create the ocean stewardship special
fund for the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of the State's marine
resources.
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The purpose of this Act is to
authorize the ocean stewardship special fund to expand its authorized usage to
include planning, development, designing, or implementation of beach
restoration projects, including the awarding of grants to nonprofit
organizations for beach and nearshore environmental cleanup.
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SECTION
2
.
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Section
187A-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read
as follows:
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(c)
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Subject to subsection (d), the ocean
stewardship special fund shall be used to:
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(1)
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Develop
and carry out marine resource conservation, restoration, enhancement, research,
regulatory measures, enforcement actions, educational activities, or any other
management measure intended to conserve, restore, and enhance marine resources
under the jurisdiction of the State;
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(2)
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Develop
and carry out restoration and compensatory mitigation measures for impacts to
the marine environment, including impacts to the marine environment from
federal or state permitted actions, or violations of subtitle 5 of title 12 or
any rule adopted thereunder; [
and
]
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(3)
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Install,
maintain, and replace day use mooring buoys and other infrastructure to reduce
impacts to the marine ecosystem[
.
]
; and
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(4)
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Plan, design, develop, or implement beach restoration projects,
including the awarding of grants to nonprofit organizations for beach and
nearshore environmental cleanup.
"
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SECTION
3.
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Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory
material is underscored.
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SECTION
4.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1,
2026.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Ocean
Stewardship Special Fund; Shoreline Restoration; Beach Cleanups
Description:
Authorizes
the Ocean Stewardship Special Fund to be used for planning, development,
designing, or implementation of beach restoration projects, including the
awarding of grants to nonprofit organizations for beach and nearshore
environmental cleanup.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.