STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2086

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2017

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 Agriculture and Environment and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2017 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require climate vulnerability assessments for permit applications filed on or after January 1, 2020, to construct, modify, relocate, or operate any regulated air pollutant source, in order to further the State's commitment to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, O‘ahu County Legislative Priorities Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation.

Your Committees find that climate change is a major threat to the economy, environment, and overall well-being of the State. Your Committees further find that this measure furthers the Legislature's commitments made in Act 32, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the provisions of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2017, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2017, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair