STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3017

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3060

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3060, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A CLIMATE ADAPTION AND RESILIENCE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to better assess the risk to the State from climate change.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop and publish a statewide climate adaptation and resilience implementation plan; and

(2) Appropriates moneys to the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to establish three full-time equivalent positions and pay for certain expenses.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Democratic Party of Hawaii; and Hawaii Food Industry Association.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii faces substantial financial risks due to climate change, including infrastructure damage, financial losses, and negative impacts to agriculture and fisheries. Your Committee further finds that although many specific plans relating to climate adaptation have been published, there is currently no statewide climate adaptation and resilience implementation plan that assesses the overall financial risk to the State associated with climate change.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3060, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair