STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1663

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1176

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1176, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A JOB CORPS PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Green Jobs Youth Corps Program.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Designates the Department of Land and Natural Resources to administer or enter into agreements to administer a green jobs youth corps program to provide temporary work and training in natural resource management, agriculture, conservation, renewable energy, or other sustainability professions;

(2) Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to submit a report on its progress in implementing the program; and

(3) Appropriates funds for the program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; two members of the Hawaii County Council; Kuaaina Ulu Auamo; Beyond Organic Consulting, Inc.; Kupu; Hawaii Fish Company Inc.; Hawaii SEED; The Nature Conservancy Hawaii; Re-use Hawaii; KAEHU; Hawaii's Thousand Friends; Young Democrats of Hawaii; HPM Building Supply; Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii; Bishop Museum; Touching the Earth; and nineteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that a green jobs youth corps program will help to address the employment displacement impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic while supporting economic diversification and green sector industries.

Your Committee hopes that in the future, the Green Jobs Youth Corps Program will expand its scope of focus beyond careers in the field of conservation and to individuals under thirty years of age while also attempting to diversify Hawaii's economy.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 1176, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1176, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair