STAND. COM. REP. NO. 763

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 197

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 197, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Health to establish a Refrigerant Management Program to reduce emissions of high global warming potential refrigerants and any refrigerant that is an ozone depleting substance from stationary, commercial, and industrial refrigeration equipment and adopt rules for the regulation of the use of such refrigerants;

(2) Require the State Building Code Council to establish codes and standards consistent with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons when updating the state building code;

(3) Specify that no law, rule, ordinance, or code, including the state building code, shall prohibit or limit the use of a refrigerant that is designated as acceptable for use under federal law; and

(4) Appropriate funds for the Refrigerant Management Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii Environmental Change Agents' Decarbonization of Buildings Task Force, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, 350Hawaii.org, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that the United States Environmental Protection Agency phased out the production and import of chlorofluorocarbons and most hydrochlorofluorocarbons, commonly used as refrigerants, because of their potential to deplete the upper ozone layer, and these refrigerants were ultimately replaced with hydrofluorocarbons. However, your Committee further finds that some types of hydrofluorocarbons are potent greenhouse gases with very high global warming potentials contributing to climate change. Your Committee believes that the State needs to take the initiative to prevent harmful chemicals from leaking into the atmosphere by establishing a Refrigerant Management Program.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 197, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair