STAND. COM. REP. NO. 639-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2547

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 2547, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure the long-term planning, coordination, and implementation of the State's sustainability goals by:

(1) Establishing an Office of Sustainability (Office) within the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) to guide state sustainability policies; and

(2) Creating the State Sustainability Special Fund to support the Office and its initiatives.

The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i, Ulupono Initiative, Hawai‘i Interfaith Power and Light, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Surfrider Foundation Hawaii Chapters, Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Bioeconomy Trade Organization, Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, Patients Without Time, Kokua Hawaii Foundation, Honua Consulting, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Office of Planning, State Procurement Office, and DBEDT testified in support of the intent of this measure. The Department of the Attorney General and Department of Budget and Finance provided comments.

Your Committee finds that the State faces a growing number of pressing issues, including the steady deterioration of public infrastructure, the lack of affordable housing, a continued reliance on a service-based economy, the vulnerability of Hawaii in a volatile global energy market, possible interruptions in travel and to critical food supplies, threats to fragile island ecosystems, ever-increasing numbers of residents, and an increasing number of visitors over the long-term and that these issues impact the quality of life for all of the residents of Hawaii.

Your Committee also finds that in 2005, recognizing that steps needed to be taken to coordinate the actions needed to sustain a growing and vibrant economy while maintaining a high quality of life for all residents and visitors, the Legislature established the Hawaii 2050 Task Force and the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan. As such, your Committee finds that there is a sense of urgency to address the pressing issues facing the State's sustainability and that the time has come to begin taking action to address these issues. Your Committee finds that this measure is the first step in this process.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2547, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair