STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1017

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   S.B. No. 713

      S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 713, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii to renew the emergency environmental workforce.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of the measure from the University of Hawaii system and the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii.  Comments were received from the Nature Conservancy.

 

     Your Committee finds that the emergency environmental workforce was originally established in 2001 to provide short-term employment for individuals who became unemployed as a result of the economic downturn following the events of September 11, 2001.  The workforce's funding was limited to only fiscal year 2001-2002.  Your Committee finds that the current economic downturn accompanying the national economic crisis necessitates the renewal of the emergency environmental workforce to again provide short-term employment.

 

     Your Committee recommends that a portion of the federal stimulus funding be used to shore up the existing environmental workforce (i.e., watershed partnerships and invasive species committees), to prevent job loss and ensure the success of a renewed emergency environmental workforce, and to ensure sufficient funding for human resources support, safety equipment, tools, vehicles, and other necessities for workers and managers.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 713, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair