Report Title:

Environment; "Green Government Initiative"

Description:

Enacts the "Green Government Initiative", a program designed to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices within state government.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2408

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES.

 

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

 

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that environmentally sustainable practices are economically feasible and good for the environment. This bill creates a "Green Government Initiative" to assist state agencies in meeting environmental compliance requirements and to assist those agencies in incorporating environmentally sustainable practices into all state government functions. The "Green Government Initiative" will be jointly directed by the Department of Health and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The "Green Government Initiative" seeks to achieve continuous improvement in environmental performance of all state agencies through such measures as pollution prevention, improvements in energy efficiency, procurement of environmentally friendly commodities and services, recycling of waste products and enhanced fleet efficiency through the purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles and proper fleet maintenance.

The bill requires the Department of Health and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to establish a coordinated state government environmental compliance policy that includes the incorporation of environmentally sustainable practices into state government, to establish goals for the economic and environmental performance of state agencies, to advise and assist state agencies in the development of environmental compliance audits and plans and in implementing those plans, to advise the Governor and the Legislature on the formulation of policies for the effective operation, management and achievement of the goals of the "Green Government Initiative".

The bill requires each state agency to determine its compliance with applicable state and federal environmental laws and to develop a biennial plan outlining the actions the agency will take to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices into its planning and operations.

The bill also requires the Department of Health and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to jointly report on the activities of all state agencies under the initiative to the joint standing committee of the legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters and the joint standing committee of the legislature having jurisdiction over state government matters every 2 years, beginning on January 1, 2004.

SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"CHAPTER

-1. Title. This Act may be referred to as the "Green Government Initiative".

-2. Initiative established; directors. The "Green Government Initiative", referred to in this section as the "initiative," is established to assist state agencies in meeting applicable environmental compliance requirements and to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices into all state government functions. The initiative is jointly directed by the appropriate divisions within the Department of Health and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, referred to in this section as the "directors."

-3. Duties; responsibilities. The directors of the initiative shall:

(a) establish a coordinated state government

environmental compliance policy that includes the incorporation of environmentally sustainable practices into state government planning, operations and regulatory functions;

(b) establish goals to measure and assess the environmental compliance and performance of state agencies. In developing those goals, the directors shall seek to achieve continuous improvement in environmental compliance and performance of all state agencies through:

(1) pollution prevention;

(2) improvements in energy efficiency, including facility siting, design, construction and management; and

(3) procurement of environmentally friendly commodities and services, recycling of waste products and enhanced fleet efficiency;

(c) advise and assist state agencies in developing environmental compliance audits and plans and in implementing those plans;

(d) advise the Governor and the Legislature in the formulation of policies for the effective operation, management and achievement of initiative goals; and

(e) ensure that the capital master plan established under Title 5, section 299 is implemented in a manner consistent with the goals of the initiative.

-4. Responsibilities of state agencies. State agencies shall cooperate with the directors in implementing the initiative and shall provide staff assistance and technical support upon request. In addition, each state agency shall:

(a) complete an audit of its facilities to determine compliance with applicable state and federal environmental laws;

(b) develop a biennial plan that outlines the actions the agency will take to incorporate compliance efforts and environmentally sustainable practices into its planning and operational functions. To facilitate incorporation into the biennial budget process, these plans must be submitted to the directors prior to June 1st of each even-numbered year, beginning in 2002;

(c) appoint an employee in the agency to be responsible for ensuring the development and implementation of agency activities under the initiative; and

(d) establish standards for leasing or building state facilities that meet the goals of the initiative.

Each agency shall fund costs associated with implementing this initiative from within existing budgeted resources.

-5. Reporting. Beginning on January 1, 2004, and biennially thereafter, the directors shall jointly report on the activities of all state agencies under the initiative to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state government matters. The report must identify the successes of and the obstacles to implementation of the initiative and may include recommendations for any statutory changes necessary to accomplish the goals of the initiative."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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