Bill Text: HI HB1856 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Relating To Sea Level Rise.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-03-16 - The hearing on this measure has been cancelled until further notice. [HB1856 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HB1856-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1856

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO SEA LEVEL RISE.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii is already experiencing the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, extreme tides, accelerated coastal erosion, and stronger, more frequent storms.  Even with decisive actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many of the impacts of climate change are inescapable and require adaptation.

     The legislature further finds that the Hawaii Climate Adaptation Initiative was established in 2014 with the purpose of protecting the State's economy, health, environment, and way of life by considering how to best adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.  In December 2017, the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission produced the first Hawaii sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation report.  The report identified areas that are susceptible to sea level rise impacts and urged immediate preparation for a 3.2-foot increase in sea level by 2060.  The report also made a number of recommendations to state and county agencies based on emerging good practices, designed to strengthen Hawaii's overall readiness to face sea level rise and climate change.

     The purpose of this Act is to direct and fund the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission to continue its progress towards addressing the impacts of sea level rise, to identify critical public infrastructure in impacted areas, and to provide policy direction to the legislature about how to move forward with concrete strategies for mitigation and adaptation to sea level rise.

     SECTION 2.  (a) Pursuant to section 225P-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission, in collaboration with the office of planning coastal zone management program, shall:

     (1)  Conduct a thorough inventory of critical public infrastructure, existing or planned, both man-made and natural, and determine if the infrastructure is in or near an area that is vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise, and analyze predicted impacts of sea level rise to identified vulnerable infrastructure;

     (2)  Identify priority areas throughout the State that will be subject to high rates of coastal erosion and sea level rise, including public infrastructure and private properties;

     (3)  Design and propose sea level rise impact zone maps to be adopted by the legislature and provide a guidepost for future sea level rise adaptation policies;

     (4)  Work with state and county agencies to develop sea level rise adaptation plans in accordance with the Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report; and

     (5)  Make specific recommendations to the legislature for policies that may be adopted for managed retreat, relocation of infrastructure, or mitigation measures to minimize the impacts of sea level rise for public infrastructure and private properties, including information regarding how these recommendations may be funded and consideration of sea level rise policies implemented in other states and nations.

     (b)  The Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission shall report the findings and recommendations required by subsection (a) to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2022.

     SECTION 3.  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 2020-2021 to help the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission conduct its activities as required by section 2 of this Act.

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

     SECTION 4.  The appropriation made in section 3 of this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2022, shall lapse as of that date.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.


 


 

Report Title:

Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Sea Level Rise; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission, in collaboration with the office of planning CZM program, to conduct certain activities to address the impacts of sea level rise and report to the legislature before the 2022 regular session.  Appropriates funds for the commission's activities and extends the lapse date to June 30, 2022.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (HD1)

 

 

 

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

 

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