HB3339

SECTION 1. During the special session of 2005, the legislature passed S.B. No. 1592, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1, which was enacted as Act 8, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005 (Act 8), to create the Hawaii 2050 task force to review the Hawaii state plan and the State's planning process. The office of the auditor was required to prepare and submit to the legislature the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan. Act 8 expressed the legislature's belief that government is responsible for addressing immediate issues and meeting public needs while also providing guidance to ensure a sustainable future.

The creation of the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan comes as the state faces a growing number of pressing concerns, including the steady deterioration of public infrastructure; the lack of affordable housing; a continued reliance on a service-based economy; the vulnerability of Hawaii in a volatile global energy market; possible interruptions to travel and critical food supplies; threats to fragile island ecosystems; and ever-increasing numbers of residents and visitors. These issues all raise questions about the long-term limits of growth in the state and motivate the need to begin planning and action to ensure Hawaii's future.

Addressing and solving issues critical to Hawaii's way of life and natural resources require coordinated community efforts to produce comprehensive, long-range planning policies and actions. Within that context, the mission of the Hawaii 2050 task force and the objectives of the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan are intended to revitalize the State's long-term planning process to better guide the future development of Hawaii.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Set forth and adopt the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan;

(2) Establish a sustainability council to coordinate, implement, measure, and evaluate the progress of the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan and its related activities; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the creation of the sustainability council.

SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter under title 13 to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

hawaii 2050 sustainability plan

§ -1 Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that over the years, the Hawaii state plan under chapter 226 has become outdated and there is a lack of awareness of the goals embodied therein. In 2005, the legislature passed S.B. No. 1592, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1, which was enacted as Act 8, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, to create the Hawaii 2050 task force to review the Hawaii state plan and develop a sustainability plan to address the vital needs of the state through the year 2050. The office of the auditor was required to prepare and submit to the legislature the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan.

The task force developed a comprehensive sustainability plan that provides a definition for sustainability; identifies guiding principles and five major goals for Hawaii 2050; identifies and proposes strategic actions to implement these five major goals, indicators to measure the success or failure in various sustainability actions, and priority actions and intermediate steps for a target date of 2020; and establishes recommendations.

The purpose of this chapter is to:

(1) Set forth the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan, which shall serve as a guide for the future long-range development of the state;

(2) Provide a mechanism to implement strategic actions to achieve objectives and use indicators to measure progress in the State's efforts to achieve its objectives; and

(3) Establish a coordinating body for plan implementation, progress review, and program coordination to provide for the integration of all major state and county activities to achieve a sustainable future.

§ -2 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless the context shall indicate another or different meaning or intent:

"Ahupuaa" means a traditional native Hawaiian resource and behavioral management system that ensures respect for the air, land, water, and other scarce natural resources that make life sustainable from the mountains to the sea.

"Council" means the sustainability council.

"Kanaka Maoli" means native Hawaiians.

"Plan" means the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan.

"Task force" means the Hawaii 2050 task force established under Act 8, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005.

§ -3 Sustainability; guiding principles. (a) As a result of a statewide community effort and engagement process, it was revealed that most Hawaii residents desire a balance between economic, cultural, and environmental concerns. Thus, sustainability is defined as a Hawaii that achieves the following:

(1) Respects the culture, character, beauty, and history of the state's island communities;

(2) Strikes a balance between economic, social, community, and environmental priorities; and

(3) Meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

(b) The following principles or values are established as the overall theme of the sustainability plan:

(1) To balance economic, social, community, and environmental priorities;

(2) To respect and live within the natural resources and limits of the state;

(3) To achieve a diversified and dynamic economy;

(4) To honor the host culture;

(5) To make decisions based on meeting present needs without compromising the needs of future generations;

(6) To observe the principles of the ahupuaa system to guide resource management decisions; and

(7) To emphasize that everyone, including individuals, families, communities, businesses, and government, has the responsibility for achieving a sustainable Hawaii.

§ -4 Sustainability goals. There are established five major goals that are designed to achieve a preferred future by the year 2050, as follows:

(1) A way of life where living sustainably is a part of daily practice in Hawaii;

(2) A diversified and globally competitive economy that will enable residents to live, work, and play meaningfully in Hawaii;

(3) The use of the state's natural resources are responsibly and respectfully used, replenished, and preserved for future generations;

(4) A community that is strong, healthy, vibrant, and nurturing, thus providing safety nets for those in need; and

(5) Kanaka Maoli and island cultures and values are thriving and perpetuated.

The council shall develop and implement various strategic actions to accomplish each major goal.

§ -5 Sustainability council; established. (a) There is established a sustainability council, which shall be a body corporate and a public instrumentality of the State, for the purpose of implementing this chapter. The council shall be placed administratively within the office of the auditor for administrative purposes until June 30, 2010. The council shall be placed administratively within the office of planning for administrative purposes beginning on July 1, 2010. The purposes of the council shall include the following:

(1) Assisting in the adoption of the principles of sustainability as an important policy priority for the State;

(2) Setting forth and implementing the Hawaii sustainability plan to serve as a long-range sustainability planning guide for the State; and

(3) Measuring the State's progress in meeting its sustainability goals and objectives.

(b) The council shall consist of fifteen voting members to be appointed by the governor to serve staggered terms and pursuant to section 26-34 in the following manner:

(1) Six of the members shall be governmental appointments as follows:

(A) One member shall be appointed by the governor;

(B) Four members to represent each county of the state shall be appointed by the governor from a list of no more than three nominees submitted by each of the four mayors; provided that each member shall reside in the county that the member represents; and

(C) One member shall be appointed by the governor from a list of no more than three nominees submitted by the office of Hawaiian affairs;

and

(2) Nine members shall be public members appointed by the governor with statewide expertise and interests in the following areas, including Kanaka Maoli; business, science, and technology; labor; environment; cultural diversity; visitor industry; military; agriculture; education; and health and human services; provided that at least one public member shall be a representative of the state's population under twenty-five years of age;

provided that, of the initial appointments, at least five of the members shall be members of the Hawaii 2050 task force and be appointed by the governor from a list of nominees submitted by the task force, excluding task force members who are members of the legislature or employees of the State, for a term of two years to expire on June 30, 2010. The superintendent of education and the director of the office of planning shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting members. The general public shall be permitted to submit nominations for council members.

(c) The members of the council appointed under subsection (b) shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their duties.

(d) The council shall appoint an executive director who shall serve at the pleasure of the council and shall be exempt from chapter 76. The council shall set the salary and duties of the executive director.

(e) The council may appoint an advisory committee for each of the following categories:

(1) Education and community engagement;

(2) Marketing and public awareness;

(3) Economic development and diversification;

(4) Environment and natural resources;

(5) Social and community development; and

(6) Kanaka Maoli and island lifestyle.

Each advisory committee shall consist of five members who shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The members of the advisory committee shall be drawn from fields of activity related to each category and be selected by the council.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the creation of a sustainability council to coordinate, implement, measure, and evaluate the progress of the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan and its related activities.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of the auditor for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	3339
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII