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DLNR says it already uses criteria in SB439 as advocates press for dedicated natural resource funding
Summary
The Department of Land and Natural Resources told the joint committees it is already applying fee criteria similar to those in SB439; conservation and care-for-aina groups urged passage to secure funding for resource protection.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources told the joint Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs and the Senate Committee on Ways and Means that it is already using criteria similar to those proposed in Senate Bill 439 as advocates urged lawmakers to pass the measure to fund natural resource protection.
Kirk Cottrell, administrator for the Division of State Parks at DLNR, told the committees the agency “is basically doing everything that the bill is requesting now.” Cottrell said the department has been applying an eight-criteria framework to identify state park units for fees, has 10 parks currently collecting fees and five under examination, and has existing rules (chapter 13-144-6, as provided in written testimony) that designate which park units may charge fees.
Cottrell also referenced Act 194 (Session Laws of Hawaii 2021), which granted the Board of Land and Natural Resources authority to adjust fees without going through rulemaking for some fee changes and allows experimentation with surge or dynamic pricing, an approach DLNR has not yet implemented but has listed as a future option. He noted that fees collected are deposited to the state park special funds.
Conservation groups voiced support. Hannah Lisiak, of the Care for Aina Now Coalition, said the coalition — representing more than 60 organizations — supported SB439 and urged lawmakers to provide funding for natural resource protection. Other supporters noted in the written record included Coalition Earth and the Tax Foundation; two individuals registered opposition on Zoom.
The committees adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass SB439 with amendments (adopting Legislative Reference Bureau technical amendments) and advanced the measure in the decision-making session.
DLNR officials described the department’s current practices and noted the bill’s interesting addition of a consumer price index reference, which Cottrell said was a creative element. The transcript does not specify the amendment language or the appropriation amount attached to SB439.
