REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO COORDINATE THE TRANSFER OF SMALL BOAT HARBORS BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND TO ESTABLISH A MANAGEMENT TEAM TO DEVELOP TRANSITION PLANS.

SR62

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

62

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the department of transportation and
department of land and natural resources to coordinate the transfer of small
boat harbors back to the department of transportation and to establish a
management team to develop transition plans
.

����
WHEREAS, Act
272, Session Laws of Hawaii 1991 (Act 272), transferred the administration of
the State's small boat harbors from the Department of Transportation to the
Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

����
WHEREAS, Act
272 included transition provisions requiring the establishment of a joint
management team to ensure continuity of operations, personnel alignment, and
administrative readiness during the transfer period; and

����
WHEREAS, the Legislature
now seeks to return the small boat harbor program to the Department of
Transportation to better align harbor planning, capital programming,
operations, and maintenance with the State's integrated, multimodal
transportation system; and

����
WHEREAS, the
transfer of authority, staff, operations, and assets requires a structured
transition process, sufficient lead time, and clear accountability to ensure
uninterrupted services and responsible stewardship of public resources; and

����
WHEREAS, while
the transfer of full regulatory authority, responsibilities, and jurisdiction
over the State's small boat harbors would require statutory amendments through
the enactment of laws, the Legislature finds value in initiating coordinated
planning to ensure that any prospective transition proceeds in an orderly and
informed manner; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Transportation and Department
of Land and Natural Resources are requested to coordinate the transfer of all
authority, responsibilities, positions, staff, operations, programs, assets,
funds, and accounts associated with the State's small boat harbors back to the
Department of Transportation; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Director of Transportation and Chairperson of the Board of
Land and Natural Resources are requested to establish a management team to
coordinate the transfer; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Director of Transportation and Chairperson of the Board of
Land and Natural Resources are requested to designate or assign necessary staff
to support the management team in developing and implementing transition plans;
and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the management team is requested to develop transition and
implementation plans necessary to ensure that the transferred functions and
personnel are operational within the Department of Transportation, including,
at a minimum:

����
(1)
�
Reworking position descriptions and reviewing
personnel classifications;

����
(2)
�
Developing an organizational structure for
administering small boat harbors within the Department of Transportation; and

����
(3)
�
Addressing operational, administrative, and
personnel‑related matters necessary for an orderly transfer; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the management team is requested to submit a report of its
findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the
Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular
Session of 2027; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Director of Transportation and Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural
Resources.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

DOT;
DLNR; Small Boat Harbors; Transfer