Bill Text: HI SB585 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Climate Change.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-01-27 - Referred to WTL/AEN, WAM. [SB585 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2021-SB585-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	585
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Greenhouse gas emissions are a leading cause of global warming and climate change.  The legislature has passed numerous measures over the last decade to address climate change.  Among them, Act 32, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, commits the State to systematically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resiliency to climate change in alignment with the principles and goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

     The legislature finds that the State has increasing exposure to climate change related risks and events.  However, the islands also have environmental resources, including forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and other natural infrastructure that, if healthy, well-managed, and functioning, can help reduce emissions as well as mitigate the risks and related loss and damages from climate change.  Accordingly, it is important to invest in nature-based solutions to climate change.

     The purpose of this Act is to add to the authority of the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission by directing it to:

     (1)  Identify and prioritize nature-based solutions to climate change; and

     (2)  Assess opportunities for insurance and other risk transfer mechanisms that incentivize investment in nature-based solutions to climate change.

     SECTION 2.  Section 225P-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

     ""Nature-based solutions" means actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems that contribute to climate change mitigation, adaptation, or risk management, that can be implemented alone or in conjunction with other solutions to climate change, and provide benefits to people and the environment."

     SECTION 3.  Section 225P-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§225P-3  Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission; general functions, duties, and powers.  (a)  There is established the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission that shall be placed within the department of land and natural resources for administrative purposes only.

     (b)  Coordination of the commission shall be headed jointly by the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources, or the chairperson's designee, and the director of the office of planning, or the director's designee.

     (c)  The commission shall include the following members:

     (1)  The chairs of the standing committees of the legislature with subject matter jurisdiction encompassing environmental protection and land use;

     (2)  The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources or the chairperson's designee, who shall be the co-chair of the commission;

     (3)  The director of the office of planning or the director's designee, who shall be the co-chair of the commission;

     (4)  The director of business, economic development, and tourism or the director's designee;

     (5)  The chairperson of the board of directors of the Hawaii tourism authority or the chairperson's designee;

     (6)  The chairperson of the board of agriculture or the chairperson's designee;

     (7)  The chief executive officer of the office of Hawaiian affairs or the officer's designee;

     (8)  The chairperson of the Hawaiian homes commission or the chairperson's designee;

     (9)  The director of transportation or the director's designee;

    (10)  The director of health or the director's designee;

    (11)  The adjutant general or the adjutant general's designee;

    (12)  The chairperson of the board of education or the chairperson's designee;

    (13)  The directors of each of the county planning departments, or the directors' designees; and

    (14)  The manager of the coastal zone management program.

     (d)  In addition to the members listed in subsection (c), the chairs of the commission may request the participation or input of members of the public; experts in the field; and county, state, or federal officials or others as necessary.

     (e)  The members of the commission shall serve without pay but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in carrying out their duties.

     (f)  The commission shall provide policy direction, facilitation, coordination, and planning among state and county agencies, federal agencies, and other partners as appropriate.

     (g)  The commission shall establish climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and goals to help guide planning and implementation statewide using the latest scientific analysis and risk assessment to monitor and forecast climate change related impacts at the regional, state, and local level, including any additional information deemed necessary.

     (h)  The commission shall identify vulnerable people, communities, industries, ecosystems, and the potential economic ramifications for climate change related impacts.

     (i)  The commission shall [identify]:

     (1)  Identify existing climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts at the federal, state, and local levels [and make];

     (2)  Make recommendations for how to meet or exceed Hawaii's state mitigation goals [and shall adopt];

     (3)  Adopt a liberal approach in preparation, so as to minimize future risk to the people and environment of Hawaii[.]; and

     (4)  Prioritize identification of and recommendations for utilizing nature-based solutions in its climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts at the regional, state, and local levels.

     (j)  The commission shall assess the capacity and availability of existing resources and identify new sources of revenue necessary to address climate change mitigation and adaptation and shall advise the governor, legislature, and counties on the economic and budgetary ramifications of climate change impacts, mitigation, and adaptation.

     (k)  The commission shall assess and make recommendations related to insurance, reinsurance, and other risk transfer products or market mechanisms that incentivize public and private investment in nature-based solutions that reduce carbon emissions, lessen exposure, or reduce climate risks to human safety and well-being, property, utilities, infrastructure, and the environment.  Pursuant to subsection (d), the commission may seek the advice and assistance of the insurance division of the department of commerce and consumer affairs and other appropriate experts in carrying out this activity.

     [(k)] (l)  The commission shall identify the information necessary to track progress in implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts and shall submit an annual report to the governor and legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session of the legislature.

     [(l)] (m)  The commission shall maintain a website that includes a mission statement as well as access to climate change related actions, plans, policies, and results.

     [(m)] (n)  The commission shall conduct a comprehensive review of the implementation as required by this section and submit a report to the governor, legislature, and the counties no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023 and every five years thereafter.

     [(n)] (o)  The commission shall, as a first step, focus on and develop sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation reports that shall include:

     (1)  Identification of the major areas of sea level rise impacts affecting the State and counties through 2050;

     (2)  Identification of expected impacts of sea level rise based on the latest scientific research for each area through 2050;

     (3)  Identification of the economic ramifications of sea level rise;

     (4)  Identification of applicable federal laws, policies, or programs that impact affected areas; and

     (5)  Recommendations for planning, management, and adaptation for hazards associated with increasing sea level rise.

The reports shall be made publicly available no later than December 31, 2017, and the commission shall reevaluate and update the sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation report every five years.

     [(o)] (p)  In developing the report, pursuant to subsection [(n),] (o), the commission shall:

     (1)  Solicit public views and concerns; and

     (2)  Coordinate with the various county, state, and federal agencies involved in ongoing climate change adaptation planning initiatives."

     SECTION 4.  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 2021-2022 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission to identify and prioritize nature-based solutions for climate change and identify insurance and risk transfer mechanisms to incentivize investment in these solutions.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2021.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Initiative; Nature-based Solutions to Climate Change; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission to prioritize nature-based solutions in its climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts and assess risk transfer market mechanisms that promote investments in nature to reduce the risks of climate change.  Defines "nature-based solutions".  Appropriates moneys.

 

 

 

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