STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1184

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 226

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 226, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by:

     (1)  Requiring the Director of Health (Director), in consultation with the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to determine the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 and approve a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit that is equivalent to that level to be achieved by 2020;

     (2)  Requiring the Director to adopt rules by which the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective greenhouse gas emission reductions may be achieved; and

     (3)  Appropriating funds out of the Environmental Response Revolving Fund for the Director to administer the greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements.

Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning, LLC, and Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Health opposed this measure.  The Western States Petroleum Association, Life of the Land, and Windward Ahupuaa Alliance offered comments.

     Your Committee suggests consideration of the state general fund as a source for the appropriation to the Department of Health to administer the greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 226, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 226, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair