STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2588

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3273

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 3273 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 by July 1, 2026;

(2) Create a Department of Environmental Protection working group to evaluate the logistics required for the State to establish a Department of Environmental Protection; and

(3) Require the working group to submit a report of its findings to the Legislature prior to the 2025 Regular Session.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu, and League of Women Voters of Hawaii. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i State Energy Office, and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committee finds that many states have executive level departments or agencies dedicated to environmental policies and protection. Hawaii, however, does not have a department for environmental protection. Given the increasing threat posed by climate change and growing awareness of the importance of environmental protection, the State needs an executive level department dedicated to the implementation of environmental policies. This measure requires the establishment of a Department of Environmental Protection by July 1, 2026, and creates a working group to ensure effective and efficient establishment of a Department of Environmental Protection.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Statutorily establishing a Board of Environmental Protection to oversee the Department of Environmental Protection; and

(2) 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 Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3273, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3273, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair