STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3692

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2486

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2486, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF PLANNING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a statewide sustainability division within the office of planning to ensure stronger, long-term planning, coordination, and implementation of Hawaii's sustainability goals; and

(2) Update and reaffirm the role of the office of planning to coordinate among state agencies regarding climate change adaptation and sustainability.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Department of Health; Office of Planning; Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Pele Lani Farm LLC; Kauai Women's Caucus; Conservation Council for Hawaii; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; 350Hawaii.org; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Healthy Climate Communities; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Executive Committee of the Hawaiian Affairs Caucus, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and twenty-one individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from four individuals.

Your Committees find that climate change is the overriding challenge of the twenty-first century and one of the priority issues of the State. Climate change poses immediate and long-term threats to Hawaii's economy, sustainability, security, and way of life. Your Committees further find that the Office of Planning is the appropriate state agency to coordinate sustainability and climate adaptation goals and implement those goals.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(2) Changing "statewide sustainability division" to "statewide sustainability branch", where appropriate;

(3) Clarifying that the statewide sustainability branch shall develop and promote proposals that jointly and mutually enhance local economies, the environment, and community well-being for the present and future benefit of the people of Hawaii;

(4) Deleting language that would have appropriated funds for the establishment and implementation of the statewide sustainability division and appropriated funds for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) secretary III position, two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) planner IV positions, and two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) planner V positions to support the statewide sustainability division;

(5) Specifying that the State of Hawaii's sustainability coordinator shall serve as the administrator of the statewide sustainability branch and that this position is previously funded through the base budget of the Office of Planning;

(6) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2486, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2486, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair