STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2212

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2832

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 Higher Education and Transportation and Energy, to which was referred S.B. No. 2832 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Allow funds appropriated by the Legislature to be deposited into the University of Hawai‘i green special fund;

(2) Clarify the scope of projects that can be funded by the special fund to include energy efficiency, energy conservation, renewable energy, and sustainability projects;

(3) Expand the authority of the chief financial officer of the University of Hawai‘i to collect, expend, and transfer monies from the special fund; and

(4) Specify that all expenditures from the special fund shall be subject to legislative approval.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Ulupono Initiative, Hawai‘i Energy, and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.

Your Committees find that green revolving funds are common at many college and university campuses across the country that are dedicated to addressing sustainable facilities, operations, and behaviors. These green revolving funds are typically managed by the University to fund energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainability, and energy conservation projects that reduce energy use and consumption. Act 186, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, established the University of Hawai‘i green special fund to collect and expend monies generated by energy savings from energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability projects. This measure enables the University of Hawai‘i to more efficiently administer and manage the University of Hawai‘i green special fund.

Your Committees have amended this measure by 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 Higher Education and Transportation and Energy that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2832, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2832, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Transportation and Energy,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair