STAND. COM. REP. NO. 992-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1969

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1969, 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 Tree Program in the Department of Education to support educational activities and encourage propagation of native shade trees for planting in Department schools; and

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; 350Hawaii.org; Trees for Honolulu's Future; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Hawaii Food+ Policy; Farm to School Hui; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the number of arborist positions to an unspecified number; and

(2) 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. 1969, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1969, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair