Report Title:
Emergency Environmental Workforce; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds to continue the emergency environmental workforce program, including the eradication of Salvina Molesta. (HB474 HD1)
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
474 |
TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003 |
H.D. 1 |
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
making an appropriation for the emergency environmental workforce.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, have continued to affect the lives of Americans. Through Act 4, Third Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, the legislature established an emergency environmental workforce for short-term employment for individuals who have lost their jobs because of Hawaii's recent economic downturn. The emergency environmental workforce has made great strides in addressing public health issues in the State, by increasing public awareness and reducing potentially harmful environmental factors. In addition, the workforce has provided an important avenue for economic development in the State by creating a new source of employment for our residents. During the 2002 regular session, the legislature passed legislation to appropriate funds for the workforce, but the measure was vetoed by the governor.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to continue the efforts of the emergency environmental workforce to improve the State's economy by employing citizens to protect the environment.
SECTION 2. Act 4, Third Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, is amended by amending section 2 to read as follows:
"SECTION 2. There is established the emergency environmental workforce to be attached to The Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes. The emergency environmental workforce shall:
(1) Employ approximately four hundred to four hundred fifty individuals who were terminated from their jobs after the September 11 tragedy as a result of the local economic downturn. The individuals shall be employed as three-month contract employees;
(2) Deploy contract employees to all island mayors certifying a need for environmental clearance and eradication services to supplement current services being provided for the isolation of dengue fever, the eradication of the miconia plant, the eradication of salvinia molesta, and other invasive plants, and the reduction of coqui frog and fire ant populations; and
(3) Coordinate its efforts with the efforts of the invasive species committee on each island."
SECTION 3. The State shall be responsible for funds necessary to cover the unemployment claims on behalf of the employees hired through the emergency environmental workforce. The research corporation of the University of Hawaii shall contribute to the State the current fringe cost charged to the appropriation for unemployment insurance.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004 to continue the emergency environmental workforce established under Act 4, Third Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2001; provided that the research corporation of the university of Hawaii shall have the flexibility to use the appropriations to establish program infrastructure, purchase necessary supplies, equipment, and transportation for the purposes of this Act.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the research corporation of the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. The department of land and natural resources, department of health, and department of agriculture shall work with the research corporation of the University of Hawaii to effectively deploy the workforce.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.