THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	657
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to ClIMATE Equity.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that climate change has dynamic, interrelated impacts on the Hawaiian islands that require interdisciplinary solutions. However, climate action is often inefficiently and ineffectively siloed. The legislature also finds that because the impacts of climate change prompt and transform ways of conceptualizing human impacts and responses, planning for and adapting to these impacts requires society-wide interventions.

The legislature further finds that it is crucial to make these interventions in the State through greater understanding of vulnerable populations and climate change-induced vulnerabilities. These interventions require contextually relevant and applicable data and tools that are specific to Hawaii. Understanding the social dimensions of vulnerability to climate change, including adaptive capacity to climate change; available data that represent climate change exposure, vulnerability, and adaptive capacity; and the ability to relay the information in an accessible and dynamic framework, have remained challenges. The May 2022 report, "Social Vulnerability to Climate Change in Hawai‘i – Data, Indicators, and 'Gap' Assessment", to the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission identified data gaps that relate to a range of social vulnerability tools and climate change exposures.

The purpose of this Act is to help communities and county, state, and federal agencies better understand the social impacts of climate change in the State by appropriating funds for the development of a database and data portal from data sources detailed in the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission report, "Social Vulnerability to Climate Change in Hawai‘i – Data, Indicators, and 'Gap' Assessment", and accompanying guide; and for the maintenance and updating of the data portal.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the following sums:

(1) $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the development of a database and data portal from data sources detailed in the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission report, "Social Vulnerability to Climate Change in Hawai‘i – Data, Indicators, and 'Gap' Assessment", and accompanying guide; and

(2) $100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the maintenance and updating of the data portal.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Climate Equity; Social Vulnerability to Climate Change; Database; Data Portal; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the development of a database and data portal from data sources detailed in the May 2022 report on social vulnerability to climate change in Hawaii to the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission and the accompanying guide. Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the maintenance and updating of the data portal.

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