H.B. 1318 Summary

• Transfers all functions, powers, employees, and appropriations of the Office of Environmental Quality Control to the Office of Planning effective July 1, 2021.

• Establishes the Environmental Advisory Council with up to 15 members appointed by the governor to provide broad representation from educational, business, environmental, and scientific disciplines.

• Adds environmental review duties to the Office of Planning, including advising on chapter 343 requirements, coordinating environmental quality control matters, and conducting public education programs.

• Removes the environmental council's appellate authority to hear appeals of nonacceptance decisions for environmental impact statements, transferring that function to environmental court.

• Updates references throughout Hawaii Revised Statutes to replace "Office of Environmental Quality Control" with "Office of Planning" and "Environmental Council" with "Environmental Advisory Council."