STAND. COM. REP. NO. 476

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 1407

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1407, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to mitigate climate change by:

(1) Expanding the scope of the carbon offset program;

(2) Establishing a carbon offset revolving fund and carbon offset program manager position to assist in the fulfillment of the purposes of the program; and

(3) Appropriating funds necessary for the carbon offset program.

Life of the Land and one concerned individual supported this measure. The Department of Budget and Finance, Office of Planning, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the Office of Planning shall also have rulemaking authority related to the program; and

(2) Specifying that the analysis of third-party auditors shall be posted on the Internet.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1407, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1407, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair