Report Title:

Greenhouse Gas Task Force; Positions

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to establish two positions to support the implementation of Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007.  (HB2507 CD1)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2507

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 2

 

C.D. 1

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007 (Act 234) established state policy to reduce, by January 1, 2020, greenhouse gas emissions to levels at or below the estimates of greenhouse gas emissions for 1990.

     To achieve this goal, Act 234 established the greenhouse gas emissions reduction task force (task force), to be administratively attached to the department of business, economic development, and tourism.  The task force is required to prepare a comprehensive work plan and regulatory scheme for implementing feasible, cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the reductions required by Act 234.

The task force is required to meet no less than 13 objectives in preparing the plan, including consultations with various other public and private agencies, investigation and development of analytical tools and economic models, consideration of various technical items related to greenhouse gases, examination and use of market-based compliance mechanisms to achieve reductions, and development of rules and regulations relating to greenhouse gas emissions.

     The demanding work required of the task force has created a need for two additional specialized personnel within the department of business, economic development, and tourism to provide professional and technical support for the task force, as well as to assist in the implementation of other provisions of Act 234.  The additional personnel, a task force program manager and a project assistant/researcher, are essential in ensuring that the task force fulfills its responsibilities in a timely, effective manner.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for two additional personnel to assist the task force in implementing Act 234.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $140,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for two temporary full-time positions within the department of business, economic development, and tourism as follows:

     (1)  One greenhouse gas emissions reduction task force program manager; and

     (2)  One greenhouse gas emissions reduction task force project assistant/researcher;

to assist the greenhouse gas emissions reduction task force as well as in the implementation of other provisions of Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.