STAND. COM. REP. NO. 350-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1856

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. 1856 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEA LEVEL RISE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to direct and fund the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission (Commission) to continue the Commission's progress toward addressing the impacts of sea level rise by:

(1) Identifying critical public infrastructure in areas impacted by sea level rise; and

(2) Providing policy direction to the Legislature about how to move forward with concrete strategies for mitigation and adaptation to sea level rise.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Surfrider Oahu, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Imua Alliance, and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Planning, and Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.

Your Committees find that Hawaii is already experiencing the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, extreme tides, accelerated coastal erosion, and stronger, more frequent storms.  Even with decisive actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many of the impacts of climate change are inescapable and require adaptation.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Directing the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to work in collaboration with the Office of Planning Coastal Zone Management Program to conduct its work pursuant to this measure;

(2) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified sum;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

(4) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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. 1856, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1856, 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