STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3318

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 106

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 Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 106 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE AND THE COUNTIES TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HAWAII SEA LEVEL RISE VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTATION REPORT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the State and the counties to implement the recommendations of the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning.

Your Committees find that Act 32, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, established the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission and directed the Commission, as a first step, to focus on and develop sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation reports that are required to include:

(1) Identification of the major areas of sea level rise impacts affecting the State and counties through 2050;

(2) Identification of expected impacts of sea level rise based on the latest scientific research for each area through 2050;

(3) Identification of the economic ramifications of sea level rise;

(4) Identification of applicable federal laws, policies, or programs that impact affected areas; and

(5) Recommendations for planning, management, and adaptation for hazards associated with increasing sea level rise.

The Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission submitted a Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report in December 2017. The report identifies, with maps at tax map key detail, areas that are susceptible to sea level rise impacts based on a 3.2-foot increase in sea level projected to occur by mid-century or earlier. These areas are designated as the sea level rise exposure area projection, which the Commission recommends be adopted as a sea level rise exposure area overlay to guide state and county adaptation strategies and standards for development. The report also made a number of recommendations to state and county agencies based on emerging good practices to strengthen Hawaii's overall readiness to face sea level rise and climate change. Accordingly, this measure requests various state and county entities to implement the recommendations of the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 106 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair