HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2560

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

Relating to a sustainable economic development strategy.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State cannot truly become sustainable without first achieving a sustainable economy.

     To begin working toward a sustainable economy, the legislature enacted Act 8, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, which created the Hawaii 2050 sustainability task force and the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan.  Among its other duties, the legislature required the Hawaii 2050 sustainability task force to submit recommendations on "how best to engage the community in a public discussion to achieve a consensus on the State's preferred future, and coordinate the actions needed to sustain a growing and vibrant economy, while maintaining a high quality of life for all residents and visitors."  The legislature recognizes that there are uncertainties about the long-term limits of growth in the State, which highlight the need to continue to plan and take action to ensure a sustainable future for the State.

     The legislature further finds that measuring Hawaii's economic progress through a genuine progress indicator model, rather than measuring gross domestic product, offers a more holistic view of this progress by including social, environmental, and economic factors.  Observing genuine progress indicator trends over time can provide insight into the State's future sustainability.

     The purpose of this Act is to develop a sustainable economic development strategy that uses genuine progress indicators based on the benchmarks and indicators of:

     (1)  The Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan, prepared by the auditor pursuant to Act 8, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005;

     (2)  The Aloha+ challenge resolution, developed by Hawaii Green Growth and endorsed by the legislature pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 69, S.D. 1, 2014;

     (3)  The Hawaii comprehensive economic development strategy, published by the office of planning; and

     (4)  Other potential and recommended genuine progress indicators,

to provide recommendations to strengthen Hawaii's indigenous-based economies and create a more diverse and sustainable economy for the State.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The state sustainability coordinator, with administrative assistance from the department of business, economic development, and tourism, shall develop a sustainable economic development strategy.  The strategy shall use the benchmarks and indicators of:

     (1)  The Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan, prepared by the auditor pursuant to Act 8, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005;

     (2)  The Aloha+ challenge resolution, developed by Hawaii Green Growth;

     (3)  The Hawaii comprehensive economic development strategy, published by the office of planning; and

     (4)  Other potential and recommended indicators,

as genuine progress indicators for the State.  The strategy shall use data analysis and data mining of these genuine progress indicators to produce recommendations that strengthen Hawaii's indigenous-based economies and create a more diverse and sustainable economy for the State overall.

     (b)  In developing the strategy, the University of Hawaii shall provide data mining services for the state sustainability coordinator for the purposes of subsection (a).

     (c)  For purposes of this Act:

     "Genuine progress indicator" means a metric designed to measure the well-being of an entity that takes into account economic, environmental, and social indicators.

     "Indigenous-based economy" means economic activity derived from the native Hawaiian host culture.

     (d)  The state sustainability coordinator shall submit a report of the coordinator's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2019.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the development of a sustainable economic development strategy pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

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

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Sustainability; Economic Development Strategy; Genuine Progress Indicators; Study; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the state sustainability coordinator to develop a sustainable economic development strategy.  Directs the state sustainability coordinator to use genuine progress indicators to generate recommendations that promote indigenous-based economies, economic diversity, and sustainability.  Requires the University of Hawaii to provide data mining services.  Requires a report to legislature.  Makes an appropriation.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.