STAND. COM. REP. NO. 863

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 304

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 304, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CARBON OFFSETS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Transportation to facilitate the voluntary purchase of verified carbon offsets by air travelers.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Blue Planet Foundation.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from 350Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Office of Planning and Climate Protectors Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that air travel is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.  Your Committee believes that establishing a system for air travelers to voluntarily purchase verified carbon offsets for air travel to and from the State will help to reduce the impact of air travel on the environment.

 


     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the term "qualified air travel" includes air travel between an airport in the State and any other airport in the State or in another state or United States territory; and

 

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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. 304, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 304, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair