RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

SB2018

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2018

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

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.
�
The legislature finds that the office of
planning and sustainable development, rather than the department of land and
natural resources, is best equipped to effectively administer the Hawaii
climate change mitigation and adaptation commission.
�
The office of planning and sustainable
development is responsible for supporting the principles of the Hawaii State
Planning Act, including state priorities for climate change adaptation, and
leads the State's coordination of sea level rise adaptation activities.

����
The
legislature further finds that the office of planning and sustainable
development is charged with coordinating activities across levels of government
and ensuring cooperation to reach the State's goals.
�
The legislature recognizes that comprehensive
and coordinated action is necessary to combat the impacts of climate change.

����
Accordingly,
to promote public safety, efficiency, and effectiveness, the purpose of this
Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Transfer
the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission from the
department of land and natural resources to the office of planning and
sustainable development for administrative purposes;

����
(2)
�
Remove
the manager of the coastal zone management program from the Hawaii climate
change mitigation and adaptation commission; and

����
(3)
�
Add
a representative from the university of Hawaii to the Hawaii climate change
mitigation and adaptation commission.

����
SECTION

2
.
�
Section 225P-3,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

����
1.
�
By amending subsection (a) to read:

����
"(a)
�
There is established the Hawaii climate
change mitigation and adaptation commission that shall be placed within the [
department
of land and natural resources
]
office of planning and sustainable
development
for administrative purposes only."

����
2.
�
By amending subsection (c) to read:

����
"
(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
and sustainable development 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 and biosecurity 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.
]
A representative of the university of Hawaii.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
All rights, powers, functions, and
duties of the department of land and natural resources relating to the
administration of the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation
commission are transferred to the office of planning and sustainable
development.

����
All
officers and employees whose functions are transferred by this Act shall be
transferred with their functions and shall continue to perform their regular
duties upon their transfer, subject to the state personnel laws and this Act.

����
No
officer or employee of the State having tenure shall suffer any loss of salary,
seniority, prior service credit, vacation, sick leave, or other employee
benefit or privilege as a consequence of this Act, and the officer or employee
may be transferred or appointed to a civil service position without the
necessity of examination; provided that the officer or employee possesses the
minimum qualifications for the position to which transferred or appointed; and
provided that subsequent changes in status may be made pursuant to applicable
civil service and compensation laws.

����
An
officer or employee of the State who does not have tenure and who may be
transferred or appointed to a civil service position as a consequence of this
Act shall become a civil service employee without the loss of salary,
seniority, prior service credit, vacation, sick leave, or other employee
benefits or privileges and without the necessity of examination; provided that the
officer or employee possesses the minimum qualifications for the position to
which transferred or appointed.

����
If
an office or position held by an officer or employee having tenure is
abolished, the officer or employee shall not thereby be separated from public
employment, but shall remain in the employment of the State with the same pay
and classification and shall be transferred to some other office or position
for which the officer or employee is eligible under the personnel laws of the
State as determined by the head of the department or the governor.

����
SECTION 4.
�

All appropriations, records, equipment, machines, files, supplies,
contracts, books, papers, documents, maps, and other personal property
heretofore made, used, acquired, or held by the department of land and natural
resources relating to the functions transferred to the office of planning and
sustainable development shall be transferred with the functions to which they
relate.

����
SECTION 5.
�

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

����
SECTION 6.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

OPSD;
DLNR; Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; UH;
Membership; Transfer

Description:

Transfers
the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission from the
Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Office of Planning and
Sustainable Development for administrative purposes.
�
Removes the manager of the Coastal Zone
Management Program from the Commission.
�

Adds a representative from the University of Hawaii to the Commission.

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