STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1057

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 549

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 549, 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 amend Chapter 205A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to coastal zone management, to:

(1) Strengthen state policies to reduce residential exposure to coastal hazards;

(2) Protect state beaches by requiring new developments to plan for the impacts of projected sea level rise; and

(3) Restrict new development in areas significantly affected by projected sea level rise.

IMUAlliance and a few individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Office of Planning, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, and The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 549, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair