STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1059

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1554

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred S.B. No. 1554, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the emergency environmental workforce program to assist the counties in their fight against invasive species.

The emergency environmental workforce was established to provide meaningful employment to residents of Hawaii who were negatively impacted by reduced work schedules or layoffs as a result of the September 11, 2001 tragedy. The workforce's proven effectiveness in the control of invasive species and containment of dengue fever should continue to be one of the many tools used to address Hawaii's on-going invasive species problems to help attain environmental as well as economic sustainability.

The workforce is urged to work together with members of the private structural pest control industry. The industry can share its experience in protecting structures from pests, including invasive species such as fire ants.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting references to "emergency" throughout the bill;

(2) Deleting, from the purpose section, reference to unemployment claims and fringe costs; and

(3) Clarifying the intent that the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii work in collaboration with the Hawaii Invasive Species Council.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1554, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1554, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,

____________________________ EZRA R. KANOHO, Chair		____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair