STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2386

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3192

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 3192 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish within the Department of Land and Natural Resources a visitor green fee program to collect a fee to allow visitors to visit a state park, beach, state-owned forest, hiking trail, or other state-owned natural area;

(2) Establish the Environmental Legacy Commission to allocate the revenues from the visitor green fee program to protect and manage Hawaii's natural resources; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Kauhako ‘Ohana Association, Surfrider Foundation, Malama Pūpūkea-Waimea, Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo, Hawai‘i Alliance for Community Based Economic Development, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Ulupono Initiative, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, Resources Legacy Fund, The Nature Conservancy Hawaii, Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance Foundation, Wild Kids, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, Hawaii Green Fee, and twenty-seven individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Department of the Attorney General, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committees find that Hawaii's natural resources, including reefs, beaches, oceans, forests, streams, estuaries, and shorelines provide irreplaceable and invaluable benefits to visitors and the global community at large, which are critical to generating billions of dollars for Hawaii's economy and local community, as well as supporting thousands of jobs. Hawaii's natural environment also faces significant environmental pressure from the heavy use it receives from persons traveling from throughout the world to enjoy the State's natural beauty and resources. Continuing underinvestment in the protection and care of natural resources poses a significant liability to the visitor industry, the stability of our natural systems including our water quality, economic resilience, and health and safety of the citizens of the State.

To address emerging and ongoing environmental issues from climate change, a visitor green fee program would provide additional resources to restore, enhance, and protect in perpetuity, Hawaii's state-owned natural resources. A fee paid by visitors who enjoy Hawaii's public parks, beaches, and trails could generate necessary funding each year to enable Hawaii to leave future generations with a healthy and safe environment. Visitor green fees have also been successfully implemented at other visitor destinations around the world, including the Galapagos Islands, New Zealand, and Palau. In addition, a visitor green fee program would indirectly support economic diversification and potentially create thousands of public and private jobs. To protect Hawaii's natural resources and scenic beauty, this measure establishes a visitor green fee program, and accompanying special fund, to provide sustained funding for the protection, restoration, and care amidst an influx of increased visitor use.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Adding language to authorize the visitor green fee special fund moneys to be expended for certain purposes;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3192, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3192, 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 Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair