STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1434

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.C.R. No. 203

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 203 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CONTROL, IN COOPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU, TO PREPARE ENVIRONMENTAL AND LEGAL OPINIONS OF FUTURE STATE REGULATIONS AND LEGISLATION THAT MIGHT BE DEEMED NECESSARY TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND PREVENT THE REGRESSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Office of Environmental Quality Control, in cooperation with the Department of the Attorney General and the Legislative Reference Bureau, to prepare environmental and legal opinions of future state regulations and legislation that may be deemed necessary to combat climate change and prevent the regression of environmental protection.

Healthy Climate Communities, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and several individuals supported this measure.  The Office of Environmental Quality Control supported the intent of this measure.  The Legislative Reference Bureau and an individual provided comments.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 203 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair