STAND. COM. REP. NO. 103

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 657

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 657 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE EQUITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for:

(1) The development of a database and data portal from data

sources detailed in the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission report, Social Vulnerability to Climate Change in Hawai‘i – Data, Indicators, and 'Gap' Assessment; and

(2) The maintenance and updating of the data portal.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Blue Planet Foundation and one individual. Your Committees received testimony in opposition of this measure from two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency.

Your Committees recognize that the State is committed to the reduction of carbon in the atmosphere and is interested in proposed legislation that may aid the State in meeting its carbon reduction goals. Your Committees find that in 2021 and 2022, the Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission partnered with the University of Hawai‘i and other stakeholders to produce a report titled, Social Vulnerability to Climate Change in Hawai‘i: Data, Indicator, and "Gap" Assessment. This report produced the key recommendation that the State should fund and develop a comprehensive, user-friendly data portal on social vulnerability and climate change risks in Hawaii. This measure will help communities and county, state, and federal agencies better understand that social impacts of climate change in the State by allowing for the production of a Hawaii-specific social vulnerability index.

Your Committees acknowledge a comment from testimony by the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, that it encourages your Committee to consider adding language to this measure to clarify that the development of the database should be coordinated with all relevant parties, including those parties involved in the existing hazard mitigation framework.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 657 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair