Bill Text: HI HB765 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating To Coastal Planning.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-04-22 - Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 948). [HB765 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-HB765-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

765

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO COASTAL PLANNING.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that sea level rise is the preeminent challenge and a pivotal issue for the State.  The legislature in 2017 created the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission through Act 32, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, and tasked the commission to focus on sea level rise and develop a report identifying vulnerabilities and recommending adaptations.  The commission submitted the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report in December 2017.  The report found that warming of the global atmosphere and ocean is leading to sea level rise and studies of sea level rise predict between 3.2 feet and six feet of sea level rise by 2100 under the high-end Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scenario.  Under these conditions, Hawaii will face increased hurricane risk and coastal flooding and erosion hazards from high waves and storms.

     The legislature further finds that the commission's report recommended the following adaptation strategies:

     (1)  Ensuring that development does not take place in areas subject to coastal hazards associated with sea level rise; and

     (2)  Requiring that new development is built to be more resilient to sea level rise.

Planning for sea level rise is necessary to protect coastal structures, infrastructure, and environments.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the incorporation of sea level rise projections in all new state plans and updates to existing state plans generated under the Hawaii State Planning Act pursuant to chapter 226, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 226, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§226-    Sea level rise; plans.  The State shall incorporate evaluations, predictions, and recommendations pertaining to sea level rise projections in the preparation of new plans and updates to existing plans.  All new plans and updates shall incorporate findings of the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report prepared by the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.



 

Report Title:

Hawaii State Planning Act; Sea Level Rise

 

Description:

Requires incorporation of sea level rise projections in all new plans and updates to existing state plans generated under the Hawaii State Planning Act.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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

 

 

feedback