STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1687

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.C.R. No. 64

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 64 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE PLACEMENT OF AN OFFICE OF RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to convene a working group to evaluate the establishment and administrative placement of an office of resilience and recovery.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor Recovery and Resiliency Unit; Climate Advisory Team; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that as natural disasters increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change, there is an urgent need to strengthen the State's resilience and preparedness for future disasters. Your Committee further finds that establishing a permanent office of resilience and recovery to provide ongoing support and leadership during and in the aftermath of a disaster will significantly improve the coordination and resilience of the State's response to future disasters.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the composition of the working group; and

(2) Amending the list of recipients of certified copies of this measure.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider incorporating into the budget an appropriation of $36,000 to program ID BED144 for one temporary exempt Planning Analyst position for six months to support the activities of the working group.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 64, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 64, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair