STAND. COM. REP. NO. 426

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 167

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 167 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE PLAN,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the quality of life in the State by:

(1) Establishing objectives and policies for state facility systems in the Hawaii State Planning Act to achieve the use of green infrastructure, vegetation, and trees in state facility systems, infrastructure, and transit projects; and

(2) Requiring the Office of Planning, in partnership with the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force, to make recommendations for implementing green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines established by this measure.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Health, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 350Hawaii, and three individuals.

Your Committees find that sustainable design concepts for public infrastructure that incorporate green vegetation and trees help decrease urban temperatures, reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and capture water to replenish the water table. Your Committees also finds that people who live in these areas are less likely to suffer from acute respiratory symptoms and heart disease. Accordingly, your Committees also find that the effects of climate change have made implementing sustainable design concepts even more critical, as each passing year has seen increased temperatures and other impacts from climate change.

Your Committees further find that this measure addresses these concerns by establishing green infrastructure objectives and policies for state facility systems in the Hawaii State Planning Act and is an important step to improve the quality of life for both residents and visitors alike.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 167 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 Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair