Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2900, H.D. 1, entitled:

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 appropriate funds to continue the efforts of the emergency environmental workforce to improve the State's economy by employing citizens to protect the environment.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, have resulted in a significant economic downturn in the State. In an effort to assist those people who were displaced as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Legislature enacted Act 4, 2001 Third Special Session, which established an emergency environmental workforce for short-term employment for individuals who lost their jobs.

Your Committee on Conference believes this program is an ingenious way of keeping Hawaii's displaced workforce working. The persons employed by the program are providing a much needed service to the community which would otherwise go unfurnished.

Upon further consideration, your Committee on Conference has amended the measure by inserting $500,000, as the amount appropriated to continue this worthwhile program.

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. 2900, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2900, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.