STAND. COM. REP. NO. 37

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 847

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 Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 847 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE CAPITOL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the State Capitol as an example for reducing waste and water and energy use in the State by:

(1) Establishing the Ocean-friendly Capitol Program to encourage offices within the State Capitol to commit to ocean-friendly practices; and

(2) Appropriating funds for the installation of ocean-friendly measures within the State Capitol.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Snorkel Bob's Hawaii, Ocean Tourism Coalition, Pono Advocacy, Life of the Land, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Gods Team, Holy Light Productions, Surfrider Foundation Hawaii Chapters, Surfrider Foundation Kauai, Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee, and many individuals supported this measure. The Department of Accounting and General Services supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee notes that concerns were raised in testimony regarding the reflecting ponds surrounding the State Capitol and the harm it may cause to the nearshore ecosystem when water from the ponds ultimately arrives in the ocean.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount appropriated for the installation of ocean-friendly measures in the State Capitol to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2100, to encourage further discussion.

Should the Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $150,000 for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 for the installation of ocean-friendly measures in the State Capitol.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 847, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 847, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Legislative Management.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair