CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 35-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2008

RE:    S.B. No. 2833

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2833, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABILITY,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this bill is to address the long range issues critical to Hawaii's way of life and natural resources and assure a sustainable outlook for future generations by requiring the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Public Policy Center to review the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan and report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2010 Regular Session.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan is an important tool and guiding force for the State and that community engagement is vital for the development, implementation, and longevity of the plan.  However, further study and development of the plan is needed in order for the plan to more effectively serve as guide to policy makers.

     Your Committee on Conference notes that the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Public Policy Center will review the sustainability plan documents, data sources, and benchmarks developed to date by the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Task Force.  The Public Policy Center will meet with the leaders and organizations that developed each of the goals to frame and clarify their goals, objectives, actions, and benchmarks.  Using its existing resources, the Public Policy Center will provide a report on the feedback from the various stakeholders, and the report will include a suggested action plan for furthering the vision and goals of the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date from July 1, 2050, to effective upon its approval; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2833, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2833, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JERRY L. CHANG, Co-Chair	____________________________ RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair
____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Co-Chair
____________________________ KEN ITO, Co-Chair
____________________________ KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Co-Chair
____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Co-Chair
____________________________ MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Co-Chair