STAND. COM. REP. NO.  449-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2160

      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 H.B. No. 2160 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FORESTRY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the availability of tree stocks for agroforestry and soil health in the State by expanding the tree and plant stock available to the public through the creation of the State Tree Nursery Special Fund.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawaii Center for Food Safety, Trees for Honolulu's Future, and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that healthy soils are a critical resource for supplying food security, diverse habitats, water storage, and climate resiliency.  Your Committee further finds that trees serve an important function in improving soil health, and that the strategic planting of trees in agricultural landscapes may increase crop yield, improve soil health, and provide habitats for wildlife.  This measure supports the State's commitment to sustainability by expanding the tree and plant stock available to the public through the creation of the State Tree Nursery Special Fund.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing the requirement that the State Tree Nursery Special Fund work in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders, including the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force and researchers from the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources;

 

     (2)  Requiring additional, beneficial native trees and plant stocks to be identified by Native Hawaiian groups, rather than the Division of Forestry and Wildlife;

 

     (3)  Removing language allowing for the provision of clean planting materials for private projects;

 

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

 

     (5)  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 H.B. No. 2160, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2160, 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