STAND. COM. REP. NO. 464

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 87

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 87 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE GREEN JOBS YOUTH CORPS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources and its partner, or partners, for the continuation of benefits of the Green Jobs Youth Corps.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Energy Office, Kupu, Holomua Collaborative, Hawai‘i Gas, Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo, HPM Building Supply, 350Hawaii.org, Hui o Hau‘ula, Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association, The Nature Conservancy, Re-use Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Energy, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Mālama Loko Ea Foundation, and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that prolonged youth unemployment can have profound negative impacts on the lifetime earnings and well-being of individuals, and therefore, the State must take action to provide better work opportunities for Hawaii's youth and young adults. Your Committee finds that during the Regular Session of 2020, the Legislature passed Act 9, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, which used funds designated for the State by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to establish a workforce and training program that, among other accomplishments, funded a short-term green jobs program in partnership with the Hawaii-based nonprofit organization Kupu. Your Committee finds that under the Kupu Aina Corps, over three hundred fifty displaced workers and recent graduates were matched with work and training opportunities across the State.

Your Committee further finds that in 2021, the Legislature passed Act 181, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, designating the Department of Land and Natural Resources to administer the State of Hawaii's Green Jobs Youth Corps and provide funding for the administration of this program. In 2022, the Legislature amended the requirements for the program and provided additional funding through Act 33, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022. Your Committee finds that, in addition to addressing unemployment among youth and young adults, the Green Jobs Youth Corps is an important part of the State's strategy to diversify the economy and reach environmental and energy self-sufficiency goals. Therefore, this measure appropriates funds to ensure that the benefits to the Green Jobs Youth Corps may continue.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 87, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 87, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair