CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 99

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2021

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1162

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sirs:

 

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1162, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOREST STEWARDSHIP,"

 

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 update the Forest Stewardship Program (Program) administered by the Board of Land and Natural Resources by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying the purpose of the Program;

 

     (2)  Expanding the areas of approved management activities and practices that are eligible for cost-share assistance under the Program;

 

     (3)  Increasing the limit for payments from the Forest Stewardship Fund (Fund) for development of approved management plans and allowing payments from the Fund for implementation of approved management plans; and

 

     (4)  Amending requirements for applicants to receive Program funds.

 

     Your Committee on Conference finds that over sixty percent of Hawaii's forested areas are privately owned and managed.  The Program provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners in protecting, restoring, and managing Hawaii's forested lands, which in turn helps protect watersheds, forest resources, forest products, fish and wildlife habitats, rare and endangered plants, and native vegetation.  This measure modifies the Program's qualification requirements to increase eligibility for private forest managers, increases funds available for the management of private forests, and provides protections for native vegetation.

 

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

 

     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. 1162, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1162, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.


 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

 

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

 

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

 

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS

Co-Chair

 

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE

Chair

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN

Co-Chair

 

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH

Co-Chair

____________________________

PATRICK PIHANA BRANCO

Co-Chair