STAND. COM. REP. NO. 655-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1989

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1989 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Governor to designate the Department of Land and Natural Resources to administer or enter into an agreement for the administration of a green jobs youth corps program to provide temporary work and training opportunities in the fields of natural resource management, agriculture, or other sustainability-related professions to young adults ages twenty-six or younger;

(2) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to partner with an organization that has received accreditation from the Corps Center of Excellence Accreditation Program or has at least ten years of experience providing similar programming; and

(3) Appropriate funds for administration of the green jobs youth corps program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i State Energy Office, Kupu, The Nature Conservancy - Hawai‘i and Palmyra, Hawai‘i's Thousand Friends, of Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo, Hawai‘i Green Fee, Hawaii Fish Company Inc., Re-use Hawai‘i, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that Act 9, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, established a workforce and training program that, among other accomplishments, funded a short-term green jobs program. Your Committee further finds that Act 181, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, subsequently authorized the Governor to designate the Department of Land and Natural Resources to administer or enter into an agreement or agreements for the administration of a green jobs youth corps program to provide temporary work and training opportunities in natural resource management, agriculture, conservation, renewable energy, or other sustainability professions, prioritizing participation by young adults between twenty and forty years of age. The nonprofit organization Kupu was selected to administer the green jobs youth corps program.

Under the green jobs youth corps program, known as the Kupu Aina Corps, over three hundred fifty displaced workers and recent graduates were matched with work and training opportunities across the State. Kupu's partnership with conservation and agricultural host sites enabled individuals to work in their own communities while also giving back to Hawaii's economy and environment. This measure supports the diversification of Hawaii's economy in partnership with a qualified community organization.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the age requirement for participation in the green jobs youth corps program;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1989, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1989, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair