STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3452

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2507

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2507, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate general funds for two additional temporary staff positions for the greenhouse gas emissions reduction task force established within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism by Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.

     Your Committee finds that the greenhouse gas emissions reduction task force was established in 2007 to prepare a comprehensive work plan and regulatory scheme for implementing feasible, cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.  The numerous and demanding tasks imposed on the task force have created a need for additional professional and technical support.

     Your Committee amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the source of appropriations from general funds to the energy security special fund, which is being established through a different measure;

     (2)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

     (3)  Making the effective date of this measure the same as, and contingent upon, the effective date of H.B. No. 2505 in any form, as that measure establishes the energy security special fund.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2507, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2507, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair