CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 29-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2059

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2059, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE SYMBOLS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to designate the ‘ōhi‘a lehua as the state endemic tree.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the ‘ōhi‘a lehua is an endemic plant species found only in the Hawaiian Islands that has unique cultural, ecological, and economic value to the people of Hawaii. Your Committee on Conference also finds that the existence of the ‘ōhi‘a lehua is currently under threat, including from diseases such as a fungal pathogen known as rapid ‘ōhi‘a death. Your Committee on Conference believes that this measure will not only allow the people of Hawaii to recognize the ‘ōhi‘a lehua's cultural and ecological importance to the State, but also raise awareness of the critical threats the endemic plant species is currently facing and prompt effective conservation and expansion of its habitat in the State.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2022.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2059, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2059, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES Co-Chair	____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI Chair
____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA Co-Chair