HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2365

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 the recent collapse of national credit, housing, financial, and other markets has culminated in the current national economic crisis, which continues to have severe consequences on the local economy, including significant losses in local air transportation, tourism, restaurant, and other industries.

     While government assesses the State's long-term needs and continues its efforts to lessen negative economic impacts of activities or undertakings beyond our control, immediate short-term solutions are needed for Hawaii's people being negatively impacted with reduced work schedules or layoffs.  Immediate solutions for immediate relief will require unprecedented levels of cooperation between state and local government, and between public and private entities, and bold yet productive proposals.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the establishment of an emergency environmental workforce for short-term employment for individuals who have lost their jobs because of Hawaii's recent economic downturn.  Individuals willing to accept the challenge of a workforce job will assist the efforts to:

     (1)  Isolate the spread of the nettle caterpillar;

     (2)  Eradicate the miconia plant and other invasive plants; and

     (3)  Reduce coqui frog and fire ant populations.

     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 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 the nettle caterpillar, the eradication of the miconia plant and other invasive plants, and the reduction of coqui frog and fire ant populations; and

     (3)  Coordinate its efforts with the efforts of the department of agriculture.

     SECTION 3.  The research corporation of the University of Hawaii shall:

     (1)  Together with the Pacific cooperative studies unit, develop a planning, administration, implementation, and evaluation strategy, including a program duration plan and a budget for contract and administrative expenses for the sum appropriated;

     (2)  Consult with private employers with workforces, which have, or which may be, affected by layoffs resulting from the economic downturn to develop a recruitment and public information plan;

     (3)  Develop a strategy for the interviewing and selection of program participants;

     (4)  Work with island mayors requesting cleaning and eradication services to administer physical examinations, as may be necessary, to qualifying applicants prior to final contract offers;

     (5)  Request that the attorneys employed or retained by the University of Hawaii prepare the necessary employment contracts to meet the objectives of the program on an expedited basis;

     (6)  Submit review and assessment reports to the governor, the senate president, and the house speaker every sixty days for the duration of the program; and

     (7)  Undertake all other necessary activities for program development and implementation.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the special land and development fund the sum of $3,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 for the establishment of an emergency environmental workforce to be administered by the research corporation of the University of Hawaii.

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

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Environmental Workforce

 

Description:

Establishes the emergency environmental workforce.

 

 

 

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