Bill Text: HI SB1054 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating To Planning.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-03-14 - The committee(s) on EEP/WLH recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [SB1054 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB1054-Amended.html

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1054

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO PLANNING.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that disaster recovery efforts need to be carried out quickly and efficiently to ensure that damaged infrastructure and interrupted services are restored as soon as possible.  Prudent pre-disaster planning, as well as post-disaster responses that seek to make the State less vulnerable regarding future disasters, can expedite responses that anticipate future needs.  For example, if a road is destroyed by an ocean wave surge caused by a hurricane, it may be best to build the replacement road further inland, where it is less vulnerable.  These types of scenarios should be evaluated before an actual disaster occurs.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require:

     (1)  The State and counties to incorporate predictions of sea level rise and other climate change hazards and mitigation opportunities into applicable plans, strategies, and mapping, in order to increase the State's resiliency and ability to properly respond to natural disasters; and

     (2)  The public utilities commission to consider in its actions the findings in the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report by the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission and seek to avoid critical electrical infrastructure projects in areas of higher risk, in order to reduce risks to taxpayers and the general public.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 226, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§226-    Climate change hazards and mitigation planning; required.  The State and each county shall incorporate evaluations, predictions, and recommendations pertaining to climate change hazards and mitigation into their respective multi-hazard mitigation plans.  Those plans, at a minimum, shall incorporate findings of the "Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report" prepared by the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission."

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§269-    Sea level rise vulnerability; infrastructure sites.  Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter to the contrary, the public utilities commission shall consider the findings in the "Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report" prepared by the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission and shall seek to avoid critical electrical infrastructure projects in areas of higher risk to reduce risk to taxpayers and the general public."

     SECTION 4.  In devising pre-disaster planning and post-disaster recovery strategies, the State and each county shall develop and establish comprehensive frameworks, state functional plans, county general plans, and community development plans addressing sea level rise adaptation strategies.

     SECTION 5.  Beginning on the effective date of this Act, all floodplain mapping supported by state or county funding shall include information from the "Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report" prepared by the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission that anticipates sea level rise and floodplains in terms of special flood hazard areas, as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

     SECTION 6.  Each county shall participate in the community rating system developed by the National Flood Insurance Program.

     SECTION 7.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 


 


 

Report Title:

Disasters; Planning; Recovery; Climate Change; Sea Level Rise; Infrastructure Sites; Public Utilities Commission

 

Description:

Requires the State and counties to incorporate predictions of sea level rise and other climate change hazards and mitigation opportunities into applicable plans, strategies, and mapping. Requires the public utilities commission to consider the findings in the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report.  Requires each county to participate in the community rating system developed by the National Flood Insurance Program.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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

 

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