STAND. COM. REP. NO.  980

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1586

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1586, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish the Department of Environment as a new principal department of the State Executive Branch and to transfer the following programs and agencies to the Department of Environment:

 

     (1)  The Office of Environmental Quality Control and the Environmental Council from the Department of Health; and

 

     (2)  The Energy Office and Office of Planning programs related to climate adaptation planning from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

     The Sierra Club of Hawaii, Blue Planet Foundation, Young Progressives Demanding Action, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism; Department of Land and Natural Resources; and Office of Planning provided comments on this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1586, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair