STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3080

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2545

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2545, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the State Sustainability Coordinator of the Office of Planning to complete a holistic and comprehensive study and plan for green infrastructure opportunities in the State; and

(2) Appropriate to the State Sustainability Coordinator funds for the completion of the green infrastructure study and plan.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning, Ulupono Initiative, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and four individuals.

Your Committees find that the creation of green infrastructure plans at the state level can generate strategies to enhance and preserve parks, agriculture, forest lands, and coastal areas. State green infrastructure plans can also identify where the State can save on water management costs, decrease pollution, lower flooding risks, and address climate change. However, the State lacks a system to determine the most effective use of green infrastructure in Hawaii. Without green infrastructure planning, the State risks losing valuable opportunities to cost effectively preserve the State's environment and increase quality of life for residents. Accordingly, this measure requires a holistic and comprehensive study and plan for green infrastructure opportunities in the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the State Sustainability Coordinator of the Office of Planning to submit to the Legislature a progress report prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020 and a final report prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021;

(2) Inserting an appropriation amount of $750,000 for the State Coordinator to complete a holistic and comprehensive study and plan for green infrastructure opportunities in the State;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2018; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2545, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2545, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair