STAND. COM. REP. NO.  739-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1714

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1714, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the effects of climate change through the year 2050, to protect the State's economy, health, environment, and way of life by:

     (1)  Establishing an interagency climate adaptation committee to identify impacts associated with sea level rise and develop a sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation report for Hawaii;

     (2)  Authorizing the Office of Planning to develop, monitor, and evaluate strategic climate adaptation plans and actionable policy recommendations for and provide planning and policy assistance to the state and counties to address expected statewide climate change impacts; and

     (3)  Creating positions and appropriating funds to carry out these purposes.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Health, Office of Environmental Quality Control, State Sustainability Coordinator, Americans for Democratic Action-Hawaii, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and an individual provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Office of Planning, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and Windward Ahapuaa Alliance provided comments on this measure.

     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. 1714, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair