STAND. COM. REP. NO.  279-22

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2022

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1669

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1669 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEA LEVEL RISE ADAPTATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a pilot project in which a working group convened by the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development will develop the framework for a Waikiki Adaptation and Resilience Plan that addresses the projected impacts of projected climate change and sea level rise in the Waikiki special district.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program and the Climate Resiliency Initiative, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Coalition to Mitigate the Impacts of Sea Level Rise, and nine individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association.

 

     Your Committees find that Waikiki is a significant asset to the State and faces unique challenges and opportunities related to coastal erosion and sea level rise.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to establish the pilot project directly, rather than through the convening of a working group, and amending the scope of the Waikiki Adaptation and Resilience Plan;

 

     (2)  Deleting the dissolution date and other references to the working group;

 

     (3)  Deleting the amounts of the appropriations;

 

     (4)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     Your Committees respectfully request that should your Committee on Finance choose to hear this measure, it consider appropriating $400,000 for the development of a Waikiki Adaptation and Resilience Plan.  Your Committees also note that the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development estimates it would need one full-time equivalent exempt position with an annual salary of approximately $81,744 to adequately lead, manage, and procure consultant services to implement the activities in this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1669, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1669, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

 

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair