STAND. COM. REP. NO. 558

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 694

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 694 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to codify the seventeen United Nations sustainable development goals and indicators with references to existing state sustainability programs, such as the Aloha+ Challenge, Sustainable Hawai'i Initiative, and World Conservation Congress Hawaii Commitments, in the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Education, Department of Transportation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawai‘i Youth Climate Coalition, Hawaii Immunization Coalition, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure aligns with the State's commitment to conservation, sustainability, and economic development, and that the adoption of this measure will supplement the State's existing sustainability goals, empower collective government and private conservation efforts in Hawaii to preserve and improve the State's communities and environment, and contribute to global efforts designed to build a more sustainable future for the world.

Your Committee notes that the Hawaii State Senate has utilized the United Nations sustainable goals to develop, discuss and organize its legislative priorities prior to recent legislative sessions and believes that broader application would be beneficial for the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 694 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

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SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair