HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2558

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

state employee air travel carbon offsets program

     §   -1  Definitions.  As used in this chapter:

     "Agency" means an internal division of a branch of state government, such as a department, division, branch, agency, program, or office, and includes the judiciary and the office of Hawaiian affairs.

     "Carbon offset" means a compensatory measure made by an individual or entity for carbon emissions, which may include the causing of projects that increase the absorption of carbon dioxide.

     "Employee" means an employee of the State, including all permanent employees of the executive, judicial, and legislative branches. The term also includes legislative session staff.

     §   -2  State employee air travel carbon offsets program.  (a)  The governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, the chief justice, and the chairperson of the office of Hawaiian affairs shall implement a program in their respective branches of state government to require all agencies to participate in a carbon offset program established and administered by the department of land and natural resources to offset carbon emissions caused by air travel undertaken by an employee of the agency in performance of the employee's official duties.  The cost of the offset shall be paid to the department of land and natural resources by the agency for their respective employees on a per trip basis at a rate determined by the department.

     (b)  The department of land and natural resources shall establish and administer a carbon offset program that includes the planting of trees endemic to Hawaii, including but not limited to sandalwood varietals such as Iliahi, Laauala, Wahieala, Aoa, and Aahi.  The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this chapter."

     SECTION 2.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2030.



Report Title:

State Employees; Air Travel; DLNR; Carbon Offset Program

 

Description:

Requires state agencies to participate in a carbon offset program to offset carbon emissions caused by their employees' air travel.  Requires DLNR to establish and administer a carbon offset program. (HB2558 HD1)

 

 

 

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