Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 3087 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for job training in natural resources management under the University of Hawaii.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii and the Nature Conservancy.

Traditional job training programs do not currently offer training in skills specific for employment in natural resources management. However, a market exists for experienced natural resources workers both at the entry level, as field workers, and at the experienced level, as field supervisors.

Your Committees find that when organizations such as the Invasive Species Committees in Hawaii advertises for field staff, the pool of qualified applicants is very small. The introduction of job training programs in natural resources management could provide necessary training in global positioning systems, global information system databases, and plant recognition to attract more qualified applicants. Numerous established organizations in the for-profit and non-profit sectors could serve as potential employers for interns. Many of these organizations conducting natural resources work are small and would benefit greatly from the additional support a paid intern could provide.

Your Committees have amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to continue the discussions on this measure.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3087, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3087, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.