Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2134 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the emergency environmental workforce to assist the counties in their efforts to eradicate, control, and prevent the introduction of invasive species in Hawaii. The measure also appropriates funds to create the emergency environmental workforce.

The Mayor of the County of Maui, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, the Executive Assistant for Environmental Concerns for the Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, three members of the Maui County Council, the Hawaii Audubon Society, and the Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter all testified in support of the measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, and the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii offered comments on the proposed measure.

Your Committees find that this measure represents an innovative approach to addressing the significant environmental, health, cultural, and economic harms posed by invasive species. This emergency environmental workforce will not only alleviate the growing backlog of environmental service work, but also provide employment opportunities for individuals who are committed to preserving the environmental and cultural resources of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2134 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.