STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1157

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 908

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 908, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a statewide sustainability division within the Office of Planning to ensure long-term planning, coordination, and implementation of Hawaii's sustainability goals and policies.

This measure also appropriates funds for establishing the division and its staffing positions.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Land Use Commission, Office of Planning, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Organizing for Action, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that the State lacks a permanent governmental sustainability coordinating entity to assist with implementing the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan and the State's numerous sustainability goals and policies. This measure establishes the requisite statutory framework to serve as the foundation for the State's sustainability policies, guidelines, and principles.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 908, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 908, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair