STAND. COM. REP. NO. 261

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 266

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 266 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GLOBAL WARMING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a task force to assess the current and potential impacts of climate warming trends on the citizens, natural resources, and the economy of the State.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one state agency and four private organizations.  Testimony in support, with suggested amendments, was submitted by one private organization.  Testimony in opposition to the measure was submitted by one state department and one private organization.  Copies of written testimony are available for review on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that global climate change, encompassing both warming and cooling trends, threatens Hawaii with stronger hurricanes, shifting micro-climates, drought, shifting weather patterns, increased spread of invasive species, inundation of our shorelines, and saltwater intrusion into Hawaii's aquifers.  The best approach in dealing with these adverse impacts is to be proactive rather than reactive.  Further, your Committees also find that the task force created by this measure will be a good complement to the existing Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Task Force. 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Making technical, nonsubstantive stylistic changes; and

     (2)  Revising the measure, where appropriate, to emphasize that the task force should address global climate change, encompassing both warming and cooling trends, rather than just global warming.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 266, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 266, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Tourism,

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair