STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3466

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1842

H.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1842, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON HUMAN HEALTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish one full-time (1.0 FTE) Climate Change and Human Health Adaptation Specialist within the Department of Health; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the position and related operating expenses.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i, and one individual. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that major public health organizations, including the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, have reported that climate change is a critical public health problem. Your Committees further find that while investments in climate change mitigation are sound, there has been insufficient investment in societal adaptation to climate change, specifically for human health. This measure establishes and funds a position for a Climate Change and Human Health Adaptation Specialist within the Department of Health to determine future actions relating to climate change in human health, and to define and implement goals, objectives, policies, and priority guidelines.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1842, H.D. 2, 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 Health and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair