STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1170-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2768

S.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 Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2768, S.D. 2, 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 to provide temporary work and training opportunities in the fields of natural resource management, agriculture, or other sustainability‑related professions to young adults ages thirty‑eight and younger; and

(2) Require the Department 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 statewide in the State, or both.

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 Forest Industry Association, Hawaii Fish Company Inc., Re-use Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Green Fee, Food+ Policy Internship 2022, Climate Protectors Hawaii, and four 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 achievements, 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.

Your Committee further finds that 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 supporting Hawaii's economy and environment. This measure promotes economic diversification in the State in partnership with a qualified community organization.

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 S.B. No. 2768, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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