STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3504

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2256

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 2256, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Department of Environmental Protection on July 1, 2026;

(2) Create a Department of Environmental Protection Working Group (Working Group) to address the logistics required for the State to establish a Department of Environmental Protection; and

(3) Require the Working Group to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the 2025 Regular Session.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Environmental Advisory Council, City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay, WAI: Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations, Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research, Coral Reef Alliance, and five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii State Energy Office, and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committee finds that the State's current environmental protection functions are scattered across various executive departments and agencies. Your Committee believes that the establishment of an executive-level Department of Environmental Protection would allow the State to better manage and develop its projects that are dedicated to implement the environmental policy goals enacted by the Legislature.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing language regarding the Department of Environmental Protection Working Group;

(2) Creating:

(A) The position of Director of Environmental Protection; and

(B) A Board of Environmental Protection to which the Director of Environmental Protection shall report;

(3) Directing the Department of Environmental Protection to manage energy and develop projects that protect the environment of the State;

(4) Transferring the Hawaii State Energy Office into a division within the Department of Environmental Protection; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2256, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2256, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair