STAND. COM. REP. NO.  974-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 632

      S.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 632, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COURTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect Hawaii's natural environment through consistent and uniform application of environmental laws by establishing environmental courts as divisions of the State's Circuit Courts to have exclusive, original jurisdiction over all proceedings related to environmental matters.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs; International Coast Clean-Up; Keep the Hawaiian Islands Beautiful; Outdoor Circle; International Coastal Cleanup; Sky Ohana; Kipahulu Ohana, Inc.; and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; General Contractors Association of Hawaii; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; BIA-Hawaii; Hawaii Farm Bureau; and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council testified in opposition to this measure.  The Office of Planning and the State of Hawaii Judiciary commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 632, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair