HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2250

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

Proposed

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKFORCE.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that threats to Hawaii's natural resources and watersheds, such as invasive species, require a rapid response to mitigate environmental damage and prevent far higher costs that may be needed if the threat is allowed to expand.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a special operations team authorized to recruit a temporary workforce to respond to environmental emergencies.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established a special operations team that shall be responsible for responding to environmental emergencies by recruiting temporary emergency environmental workforce employees through the research corporation of the university of Hawaii.  The special operations team shall provide environmental emergency response services including but not limited to eradication of invasive species.

     The special operations team shall be chaired by the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources and shall include the following members:

     (1)  The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources, or the chairperson's designee;

     (2)  The director of health, or the director's designee;

     (3)  The chairperson of the board of agriculture, or the chairperson's designee; and

     (4)  The mayor of each county, or a mayor's designee.

     (b)  Upon a determination by the special operations team to respond to an environmental emergency, the research corporation of the University of Hawaii shall:

     (1)  Together with the pacific cooperative studies unit of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, conduct interviews to select emergency environmental workforce employees who are qualified to perform response services; and

     (2)  Undertake all necessary activities for emergency environmental workforce development and implementation to respond to the environmental emergency.

     SECTION 3.  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 2012-2013 for the recruitment and employment of temporary emergency environmental workforce employees as determined necessary by the special operations team.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2012.



 

Report Title:

Environmental Workforce; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes a special operations team that is authorized to assemble temporary emergency environmental workforce employees to respond to environmental emergencies.  (Proposed SD1)

 

 

 

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