STAND. COM. REP. NO.  455

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1570

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1570, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to provide persons renting cars in Hawaii with the opportunity to make a voluntary contribution toward the protection of the State's unique environment.

 

     Specifically, this measure requires lessors of rental motor vehicles to include an option for the lessee in the rental agreement to contribute a sum to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the preservation and protection of the environment.  

 

     The Department of Transportation, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported this measure.  Enterprise Holdings opposed this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that the protection of natural resources is critical to the future of the State's tourism industry.  The importance of these natural resources continues to grow as the State braces for the impacts of climate change.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources is tasked as the guardian of the State's environment, yet it lacks the necessary funding to properly carry out its duties.  In particular, your Committee notes that the Department's Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement is the agency entrusted to uphold laws to protect, conserve, and manage the State's natural resources, and that it needs additional resources to carry out this mission effectively.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the visitor industry is reliant on the State's natural resources, and that many visitors choose to vacation in the State to experience the unique natural resources found only in Hawaii.  Other states have used voluntary contribution check-off boxes to raise money for the protection of their natural resources.  This measure introduces a similar program in Hawaii that will raise funds for the State's own environmental management and will engage visitors for this purpose.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1570, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair