STAND. COM. REP. NO. 709

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 243

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 243, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEA LEVEL RISE ADAPTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the executive branch departments to:

(1) Identify existing and planned facilities that are vulnerable to sea level rise, flooding impacts, and natural hazards;

(2) Assess a range of options for mitigation impacts of sea level rise to existing and planned facilities;

(3) Establish staff level points of contact to improve interagency coordination for sea level rise adaptation, flooding, and resilience; and

(4) Submit annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission regarding vulnerability and adaptation assessments for state facilities and progress in implementing sea level rise and disaster resiliency considerations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, Keiko Conservation, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services and Office of Planning.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 243, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair