STAND. COM. REP. NO. 863

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 863

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 863, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FORESTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Forest Stewardship Program for fiscal biennium 2021‑2023 to expand and increase existing plant stocks of state tree nurseries, renovate and update the equipment and facilities of the state tree nurseries, and conduct public outreach and education on the benefits of trees and plants in providing soil health and their uses in agricultural settings.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, 350Hawaii.org, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the purpose of the general bond authorization for the Forest Stewardship Program; and

(2) 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 863, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 863, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair