STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1476

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1417

S.D. 1

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 Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1417, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Hawaii Community Development Authority to consider the impacts of climate change, sea level rise, and climate-resilient development in the design and siting of buildings in the Kakaako and Kalaeloa community development districts.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Hawai‘i Community Development Authority, University of Hawai‘i Climate Resilience Collaborative and Sea Grant College Program, Wild Kids, and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that Kakaako will be significantly affected by the effects of climate change, including sea level rise and heavy rainfall, while the lack of drainage infrastructure in Kalaeloa makes the area extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing as a development guidance policy of the Hawaii Community Development Authority's actions in the Kakaako and Kalaeloa community development districts the requirement to implement design standards for new construction that require the lowest finished floor to elevate a minimum of two feet above the flood insurance rate map base flood elevation or 5.8 feet above mean higher high water, whichever is higher, based on the latest guidance from the Climate Change Commission of the City and County of Honolulu;

(2) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1417, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1417, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair