STAND. COM. REP. NO. 467-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2635

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. 2635 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE PLAN,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure as received is to improve the quality of life in the State by:

(1) Incorporating vegetation, trees, and sustainable green design into the Hawaii State Planning Act and public infrastructure projects; and

(2) Requiring the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to make recommendations for implementing the green infrastructure priority guidelines established in this measure.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Planning, U.S. Green Building Council, Healthy Climate Communities, 350Hawaii.org, Reis Pediatrics, Trees for Honolulu's Future, IUPAT District Council 50, Painting Industry of Hawaii Labor Management Cooperation Trust Fund, Smart Trees Pacific, and thirteen individuals.

Your Committees find that Hawaii is world-renowned for its vegetation, and that citizens and tourists alike actively seek out green spaces. Increasing the number of parks and green spaces in Honolulu's urban core will increase the quality of life for its residents and visitors alike.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the objectives and policies in the Hawaii State Planning Act for facility systems to achieve the use of green infrastructure in those systems, infrastructure, and transit projects;

(2) Adding a definition of "greenhouse infrastructure" to the objectives and policies for facility systems;

(3) Including priority guidelines to promote the use of green infrastructure in state facility systems, infrastructure, and transit projects within population growth and land resources priority guidelines of the Hawaii State Planning Act;

(4) Requiring that the Office of Planning, in partnership with the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force, instead of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, prepare recommendations to implement the green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines established in this measure;

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

(6) 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. 2635, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2635, 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