CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 122

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1554

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1554, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to support the counties in addressing the problem of invasive species by permanently establishing the Environmental Workforce Program.

The environmental workforce program was established on an emergency basis to provide meaningful employment to residents of Hawaii who were negatively impacted by reduced work schedules or layoffs as a result of the September 11, 2001 national tragedy. The workforce's effectiveness in the control of invasive species and containment of dengue fever demonstrates why continuance of the program can assist the State in its ongoing fight against invasive species. The program will help attain both environmental and economic sustainability.

Your Committee has taken into account concerns raised by the Governor during the previous session regarding whether the environmental workforce program supports the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii's (RCUH) goals of research and training programs, or whether the program would enhance research, development, and training for the public. Your Committee has added language to allow the RCUH to provide training and research opportunities in the biological or social sciences relevant to the problem of invasive species, thus providing a more explicit linkage between the environmental workforce program and the goals of the RCUH.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Providing that the State is responsible for funding unemployment claims for those hired under this program, and that the RCUH shall contribute the fringe cost charged to the appropriation for unemployment insurance;

(2) Allowing the RCUH to provide training and research opportunities in the biological and social sciences related to the eradication of invasive species to the environmental workforce, and giving examples of appropriate training and research subject areas;

(3) Clarifying that the Hawaii Invasive Species Council shall work with the RCUH to use the workforce effectively;

(4) Deleting the appropriations section; and

(5) Changing the effective date of the measure to July 1, 2005.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1554, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1554, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________

Hermina Morita, Co-Chair

____________________________

J. Kalani English, Chair

____________________________

Ezra R. Kanoho, Co-Chair

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Brian T. Taniguchi, Co-Chair

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Tommy Waters, Co-Chair

____________________________

Cindy Evans, Co-Chair