STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2490

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2537

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 2537 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify the reporting requirements of the Chief Energy Officer to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office.

Your Committee finds that the purpose of Act 122, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019 (Act 122), was to transfer the duties and responsibilities of the State Energy Resources Coordinator, the functions of the Renewable Energy Facilitator, and the then existing State Energy Office to a newly created Hawaii State Energy Office and Chief Energy Officer. Your Committee further finds that Act 122 did not amend certain sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes pertaining to the reporting of certain energy matters to the Legislature. Accordingly, this measure clarifies these reporting requirements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; 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 Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2537, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2537, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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LYNN DECOITE, Chair