STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2972

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2121

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2121 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require that environmental impact statements consider whether the proposed action will exacerbate socioeconomic disparities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, and Sierra Club of Hawai‘i. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Environmental Advisory Council.

Your Committee finds that vulnerable communities and neighborhoods have been historically overlooked, and systematically under-resourced, resulting in socioeconomic disparities across Hawaii. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic has highlighted these preexisting vulnerabilities and conditions. Your Committee recognizes the need to ensure present and future generations' physical, social, and economic equity and well-being. This measure will ensure that agency decisionmakers assess the impact of proposed actions on socioeconomic disparities as part of the environmental review process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 30, 2075, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2121, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2121, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair