SR 62: 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.

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.

Report Title: 

DOT; DLNR; Small Boat Harbors; Transfer