Bill > SB1459

This bill addresses the challenges faced by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) in managing homeless encampments on its managed lands across Hawaii. The bill provides dedicated funding to support the clean-up of these encampments, which have been occurring in various locations including Diamond Head State Monument, wildlife sanctuaries, and other public lands on multiple islands. In fiscal year 2023-2024, the DLNR cleaned up approximately twenty-four locations with around 223 individuals, spending at least 129 days on clean-up efforts, with some clean-ups costing up to $1 million for a single location. Previously, funding for these clean-ups was managed through the Department of Human Services, but that department has indicated it will no longer include this funding in its budget requests. The bill appropriates funds for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to support these clean-up efforts and requires the DLNR to include line-item funding for homeless encampment clean-ups in its annual budget requests beginning with the 2027-2029 biennium. The funding is crucial for restoring public lands, mitigating potential health hazards, and protecting public trust resources, with the total clean-up costs expected to reach approximately $3 million in fiscal year 2024-2025. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2050.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1459&year=2026