STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2208

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2653

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Transportation and Energy and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2653 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, ENERGY, AND FOOD SECURITY TAX,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the amount of the environmental response, energy, and food security tax revenues that are to be deposited into the energy security special fund and the agricultural development and food security special fund.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and Building Industry Association of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committees find that there is a growing public sentiment that as an island state, Hawaii is precariously dependent on imported food and energy.  This measure will help create a greater funding base to foster increased energy and food independence.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the amount to be deposited into the energy security special fund to an unspecified amount; and

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Energy and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2653, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2653, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Energy and Water, Land, and Agriculture,

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair

 

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair