STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2811

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2274

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2274 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE LIVING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a sustainable living research permit for activities that test ideas, concepts, or inventions designed to promote sustainable living.

     The measure also authorizes exemption of sustainable living research sites from county codes, ordinances, rules, or permits relating to construction or building requirements, occupancy, zoning, or subdivisions that are not practicable for the specific sustainable living research site and that may inhibit the proposed research.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from two members of the Haiku Aina Permaculture Initiative, the Hawaii Sustainable Community Alliance, Polestar Gardens, Botanical Dimensions, the Hedonisia Hawaii Sustainable Community, and twenty-three individuals.  Written comments were received from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health, the Office of Planning, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that population growth and the decrease in resources has necessitated a more sustainable and environmentally appropriate way of life.  Your Committee further finds that sustainable and environmentally appropriate living is presently inhibited by zoning regulations that govern conventional development.  Your Committee believes that this measure will promote the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan and ensure the development of innovative, responsible, and sustainable practices that are vital to Hawaii's future.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending the definition of "sustainable living research site" by transferring operative language in the definition to form a separate section relating to the requirements for a sustainable living research site and by further clarifying that the sites are subject to state laws and rules, as well as federal laws and regulations;

     (2)  Adding an appropriation for the Department of Health to conduct a study of the impact on human health if the drinking water system of a sustainable living research site falls below the threshold for a public water system;

     (3)  Changing the effective date from July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

     (4)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, style, and consistency.

     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 S.B. No. 2274, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2274, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair