HB281 HD1.DOC

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State is undergoing a significant and possibly protracted economic downturn in tandem with the national and global economic and financial crises. Numerous jobs have been lost, a number of large and small companies have declared bankruptcy or left the State, and many families have suffered foreclosure on their heavily mortgaged houses. In the past year, the council on revenues has consistently reduced its forecasts of Hawaii's tax revenues. Across-the-board spending restrictions have already been put in place in state government, and a general hiring freeze has already been implemented except in areas that impact public health and safety.

In recognition of this situation throughout the United States, there is widely expected a federal economic stimulus package of aid for distribution to the states. In anticipation of these federal funds, the legislature finds that it is necessary to prioritize the use of these moneys to address the State's critical environmental needs.

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the emergency environmental workforce was created within the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii to employ persons who lost their jobs in the subsequent economic downturn. The legislature finds that a similar emergency workforce development program is again required to provide employment for persons affected by the current recession. The legislature further finds that this program may be funded by the anticipated federal economic stimulus funds.

The purpose of this Act is to prioritize the expenditure of any federal economic stimulus package of aid to establish an emergency environmental workforce for short-term employment for individuals who have recently become unemployed due to Hawaii's recent economic downturn. Individuals willing to accept the challenge of a workforce job will assist the efforts to:

(1) Eradicate invasive species; and

(2) Carry out other ongoing environmental programs.

SECTION 2. There is established the emergency environmental workforce to be attached to The Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes. The emergency environmental workforce shall:

(1) Employ approximately four hundred to four hundred fifty individuals who were terminated or laid off from their jobs as a result of the local economic downturn. The individuals shall be employed as short-term contract employees; and

(2) Deploy contract employees to all state or county agencies certifying a need for environmental clearance and eradication services to supplement current services being provided for the eradication of invasive species or other ongoing environmental improvement programs.

SECTION 3. The Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii shall:

(1) Together with the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, develop a planning, administration, implementation, and evaluation strategy, including a program duration plan and a budget for contract and administrative expenses;

(2) Consult with private employers with workforces, that have been, or that may be, affected by layoffs from the recent economic downturn to develop a recruitment and public information plan;

(3) Develop a strategy for the interviewing and selection of program participants;

(4) Work with state and county agencies requesting services to administer physical examinations, as may be necessary, to qualifying applicants prior to final contract offers;

(5) Direct that the attorneys employed or retained by the University of Hawaii prepare the necessary employment contracts to meet the objectives of the program on an expedited basis;

(6) Submit review and assessment reports to the governor, the senate president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives every sixty days for the duration of the program; and

(7) Undertake all other necessary activities for program development and implementation.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of federal funds received by the State from the economic stimulus act of 2009 the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 to fund the emergency environmental workforce created by this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	281
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII