STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1161-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2077

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2077, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Hawaii Tree Planting Program to plant at least one million appropriate, non-invasive trees in the State per year.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning, Hawaii Forest Industry Association, Climate Protectors Coalition, EcoTipping Points Project, and ten individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Conservation Council for Hawaii, and Sierra Club of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that planting trees is an important way to address climate change and that trees benefit the environment, ecosystem, and human health by sequestering carbon, purifying the air, cooling streets, shading structures, and slowing evaporation of nearby low vegetation.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the composition of the Hawaii Tree Planting Program partnership to more generally include the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Office of Planning, rather than specifically named programs or divisions;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2077, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2077, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair