STAND. COM. REP. 364

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 474

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 474, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE EMERGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKFORCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to improve the State's economy and protect the State's environment by:

(1) Employing citizens through the Emergency Environmental Workforce (Workforce) established under Act 4, Third Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2001 (3rd SSLH);

(2) Expanding the eradication services of the Workforce to include the eradication of Salvinia Molesta;

(3) Making an unspecified appropriation to continue the efforts of the Workforce; and

(4) Providing the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii (RCUH) with the flexibility to use the funds to establish program infrastructure, purchase necessary supplies, equipment, and transportation to continue the efforts of the Workforce.

 

The Nature Conservancy, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Invasive Species Committees on Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Molokai and the Big Island, RCUH, Department of Agriculture, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, and the Mayor of Maui County testified in support of this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources commented on this measure.

RCUH was able to mobilize the previous Workforce within a month after the passage of Act 4, 3rd SSLH 2001. Two hundred fifty-five individuals who lost their jobs due to the events of September 11th were employed in work that directly benefited the State. These individuals removed invasive plants from over 9,700 acres of land across the state. For each dollar the State invested in the Workforce, it achieved two important goals:

(1) Provided an economic cushion against unemployment; and

(2) Eradicated alien pests that threaten the state of Hawaii's unique flora and fauna.

Your Committee finds that current events around the globe once again threaten to have devastating impacts on Hawaii's economy. This measure will provide needed short-term employment opportunities to persons displaced from employment by these events.

Moreover, the invasion of alien species continues to damage Hawaii's environment, most recently observed in Lake Wilson and Kawainui Marsh with the spread of the aquatic weed Salvinia Molesta. The continuation of the Workforce will help to eradicate these invasive species and preserve Hawaii's natural beauty.

Your Committee notes that RCUH is proposing a tentative operating budget of approximately $5,000,000. This proposal is based on an estimate of a workforce of 450 employees for the duration of a three-month program, although they need to meet with the involved agencies to further develop a more accurate operating budget. Your Committee respectfully requests the Committee on Finance to consider RCUH's funding request.

 

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 474, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection,

 

____________________________

HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair