STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1066-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2696

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism & International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2696, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GREEN FEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Office of Planning to prepare a feasibility and implementation plan to assess a green fee on a per visitor, per stay basis assessing the current plans and programs to close the conservation funding gap and achieve the Aloha+ Challenge natural resource management 2030 goals;

(2) Require the Office of Planning to establish an advisory group to advise the office in development of the plan; and

(3) Make an appropriation for the Office of Planning to prepare the plan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, The Nature Conservancy, Kohala Coast Resort Association, IMUAalliance, Kohala Institute, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's environment is integral to the experiences of residents and visitors. Your Committee further finds that broadening the scope of the study beyond green fees will support the comprehensive statewide sustainability coordination and implementation of Hawaii's sustainability laws, goals, policies, priorities, and planning throughout government.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing the feasibility and implementation plan with a study that will identify the current plans, programs, funding sequences, and allocations of state revenue to achieve the Aloha+ Challenge natural resource management goals; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2696, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2696, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism & International Affairs,

____________________________

RICHARD H.K. ONISHI, Chair