STAND. COM. REP. NO. 987-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1994

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1994, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Shade Trees and Native Plants Program within the Department of Education to support educational activities and encourage the propagation of native plants and fruit trees for planting in department schools; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the Shade Trees and Native Plants Program and for an arborist position to support the Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui; Mamaki Ola Farm and Education, LLC; Trees for Honolulu's Future; Climate Protectors Hawai‘i; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; and ten individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and one individual.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Renaming the Shade Trees and Native Plants Program as the Shade and Fruit Tree Program and amending the scope of the program to include native shade trees, rather than native plants;

(2) Removing the Farm to School Coordinator's supervisory authority of the program;

(3) Changing the appropriation for administration of the program to an unspecified amount; and

(4) 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. 1994, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1994, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair