STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2007

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2255
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor and Environment, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2255 entitled: 

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish an environmental
education council to oversee implementation of a strategic plan
for environmental education.

     Testimony in favor of the measure was received from the
Hawaii Environmental Education Association and the Sierra Club -
Hawaii Chapter.  Testimony in opposition to the measure was
received from the Office of Environmental Quality Control.  The
Environmental Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, submitted
comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that environmental education is
currently offered by a wide array of federal, state, local,
private and non-profit organizations, and public and private
schools.  Hawaii lacks a comprehensive strategy to properly
coordinate and educate its students on environmental matters.
Although the Office of Environmental Quality Control conducts
environmental education programs, it does so on a peripheral
level absent a strategic plan.  Your Committee believes that
educating tomorrow's decision makers is the key to preserving
Hawaii's endangered species and natural resources.  Accordingly,
environmental education deserves a primary focus, and

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2007
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establishing an environmental education council with members from
the highest level of government will provide that focus.

     Your Committee on Labor and Environment respectfully
requests that the Committee on Ways and Means consider whether
the Department of Education should take the lead on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Labor and Environment that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 2255 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.


                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Labor and
                                   Environment,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BOB NAKATA, Chair

 
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