STAND. COM. REP. NO. 304-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1621

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1621 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Honolulu Shoreline Climate Protection Pilot Project, which requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to develop a comprehensive plan to protect urban Honolulu and its shoreline from the impacts of climate change, with the goal of using that plan as a model to protect the State's shorelines from coastal disaster events.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Climate Protectors Coalition, Life of the Land, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Commission.

Your Committees find that sea level is rising at increasing rates due to global warming of the atmosphere and oceans and the corresponding melting of glaciers and ice sheets.  Due to climate change, many communities in Hawaii are exposed to coastal disaster events. By first establishing a comprehensive shoreline protection pilot project for urban Honolulu, which is the most challenging to protect, the project can serve as a model for all communities in the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Blanking out the appropriation amount;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1621, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1621, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair