STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1456

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    H.B. No. 440

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 440, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys for forest conservation, watershed management, emergency response, and forest and outdoor recreation improvement.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, State Fire Council, National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, East Maui Irrigation Co., Ltd., East Maui Watershed Partnership, Hawaii Green Growth, Kauai Watershed Alliance, Oahu Invasive Species Committee, West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership, and three individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that forest conservation and access are critical to sustain Hawaii's natural environment.  However, climate change significantly threatens Hawaii's freshwater supplies, and the quality, quantity, and sustainability of this resource depends upon ensuring that forest watersheds are resilient to drought conditions.  Further, extreme natural disasters, such as wildfires and hurricanes, are expected to increase in frequency and severity, and additional resources are necessary to prepare for and respond to these emergencies.  Your Committee further finds that funding is necessary to improve forest and outdoor infrastructure so that residents and visitors may continue to experience and enjoy Hawaii's natural environment.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 440, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 440, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair