STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1301

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 944

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 944, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to mitigate the effects of climate change by appropriating funds for the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to:

(1) Prioritize the identification of and recommendations for utilizing nature-based solutions in its climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts; and

(2) Assess and make recommendations for opportunities for insurance, reinsurance, and other risk transfer mechanisms that incentivize investment in nature-based solutions to climate change.

The Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, The Nature Conservancy Hawai‘i, Healthy Climate Communities, Hawai‘i Shore and Beach Preservation Association, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and many individuals supported this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources provided comments.

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 S.B. No. 944, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair