Hawaii-2013-SR114-Introduced

WHEREAS, Hawaii is an island state with limited resources, making it critical to encourage sustainable building design, construction, and renovation in a manner that provides a healthier environment, reduces operating costs, and conserves energy and resources; and

WHEREAS, green building - also known as sustainable or high performance building - is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use and harvest energy, water, and materials and protecting and restoring human health and the environment throughout the building life-cycle; and

WHEREAS, green building can have an enormous positive impact on human health, the environment, and the economy by maximizing the economic and environmental performance of buildings; and

WHEREAS, easing the building permitting process and providing developers and owners with incentives may encourage green building in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, a working group is necessary to explore green building related issues such as: streamlining the permitting process; eligibility requirements; incentive levels; targeted strategies or technologies that enhance sustainability; expanded affordability; stimulation of economic development; and guidelines such as actively participating in the review process, responding promptly to plan review corrections, and other green permitting requirements; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that the President of the Senate is requested to establish a Green Building Program Working Group (Working Group) to explore green building related issues, including: streamlining the permitting process; eligibility requirements; incentive levels; targeted strategies or technologies that enhance sustainability; expanded affordability; stimulation of economic development; and guidelines such as actively participating in the review process, responding promptly to plan review corrections, and other green permitting requirements; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group be composed of the following members:

(1) The Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Water, Land, and Housing;

(2) One member of the Senate to be designated by the President of the Senate;

(3) The Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, or the Director's designee;

(4) The Director of Finance, or the Director's designee;

(5) The President of the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council, or the President's designee;

(6) The Chairperson of the City and County of Honolulu's Public Works and Sustainability Committee, or the Chairperson's designee;

(7) The Mayor of Honolulu, or the Mayor's designee;

(8) A representative of the U.S. Green Building Council, Hawaii Chapter;

(9) A representative of the Urban Land Institute Hawaii; and

(10) A representative or representatives of any other interested stakeholders or entities, including but not limited to developers, architects, and contractors, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President of the Senate select a member of the Working Group to serve as Chairperson of the Working Group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2014, and cease to exist on June 30, 2014; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate; Director of the Office of Planning; Director of Finance; Comptroller; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; Chairperson of the City and County of Honolulu's Public Works and Sustainability Committee; Director of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; President of the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council; President of the U.S. Green Building Council, Hawaii Chapter; and Chairperson of Urban Land Institute Hawaii.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Green Building Program Working Group

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	114
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII