STAND. COM. REP. NO. 220

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 1584

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. 1584 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CARBON EMISSIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii (UH) for the Research Corporation of the University (RCUH) to conduct a comprehensive study of implementing a statewide carbon tax.

The Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, Blue Planet Foundation, Elemental Excelerator, Organizing for Action, Young Progressives Demanding Action, and many individuals supported this measure. UH, RCUH, and Land Use Research Foundation supported the intent of this measure. An individual opposed this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Life of the Land provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring UH, rather than RCUH, to conduct the statewide carbon tax study, provided that UH may contract with a third party to assist in conducting the study;

(2) Expanding the scope of the study and the stakeholders UH shall engage with to develop the appropriate scope of the study;

(3) Requiring UH to submit its final report to the Legislature no later than October 31, 2020;

(4) Requiring UH to submit a project service order for the study to RCUH;

(5) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2100, to encourage further discussion; and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

Should the Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure further, your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $200,000 to UH to conduct the study on the implementation of a statewide carbon tax.

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. 1584, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1584, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair