STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1160

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 

 

RE:     S.B. No. 1054

        S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1054, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PLANNING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage prudent pre-disaster planning in the State.

 

     Specifically, this measure requires:

 

     (1)  The State and counties to incorporate predictions of sea level rise and other climate change hazards and mitigation opportunities into applicable plans, strategies, and mapping;

 

     (2)  The Public Utilities Commission to consider the findings of the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report by the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission and seek to avoid critical electrical infrastructure projects in areas of higher risk;

 

     (3)  All floodplain mapping supported by state or county funding to include information from the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report; and

 

     (4)  Each county to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program's community rating system.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Office of Planning.

 

     Your Committee finds that incorporating predictions of sea level rise and other climate change hazards in the State's planning and decision-making processes will result in the State being better prepared for future weather-related events.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Public Utilities Commission to seek to avoid all critical infrastructure projects in areas of higher risk, rather than just critical electrical infrastructure projects;

 

     (2)  Requiring any public utility regulated by the Public Utilities Commission to incorporate the findings of the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report into the utility's capital investment planning processes in any relevant applications and regular reports that may be filed with the Public Utilities Commission;

 

     (3)  Removing a requirement that all floodplain mapping supported by state or county funding include information from the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report;

 

     (4)  Encouraging, rather than requiring, the counties to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program's community rating system;

 

     (5)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

     (6)  Making a technical nonsubstantive change for the purpose of clarity.

 

     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. 1054, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1054, S.D. 2.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair