THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	820
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKFORCE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Act 4, Third Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending section 1 to read:

     ["SECTION 1.  The September 11, 2001, tragedy, resulting from terrorist attacks in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, has changed the lives of Americans and the way government responds to acts of terrorism.  Today, all levels of government across the nation are facing challenges to meet the needs of all constituents.

The federal government faces the monumental task of developing and implementing America's response to violent acts of terrorism and preparing an extensive network of security and intelligence to meet national and international needs.  While New York faces the enormous tasks of rebuilding and restoring disrupted services to its people, other state and local governments across the nation must deal with the "ripple effect" of a disrupted world economy.

Here in Hawaii, state and county leaders of executive and legislative branches of government have begun to assess the impact of September 11 on the local economy within the context of broader national and international economies.  While the visitor industry has been the first segment of our local economy to suffer the effects of decreased leisure travel, other ancillary or related industries have been impacted as well.

Analysis and research are still needed to provide a clearer forecast as to the potential duration and depth of the visitor downturn.

While government assesses the State's long-term needs and continues its efforts to lessen negative economic impacts of activities or undertakings beyond our control, immediate short-term solutions are needed for Hawaii's people being negatively impacted with reduced work schedules or layoffs.  Immediate solutions for immediate relief will require unprecedented levels of cooperation between state and local government, and between public and private entities, and bold yet productive proposals.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the establishment of an emergency environmental workforce for short-term employment for individuals who have lost their jobs because of Hawaii's recent economic downturn.  Individuals willing to accept the challenge of a workforce job will assist the efforts to:

(1) Isolate the spread of dengue fever;

(2) Eradicate the miconia plant and other invasive plants; and

(3) Reduce coqui frog and fire ant populations.]

SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks continue to have lasting impacts on the lives of Hawaii residents and Americans everywhere.  The ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have cost the United States billions of dollars thus far.  The exorbitant economic cost of these wars represents an opportunity cost of providing social safety nets and ultimately translates into lower resiliency in the face of economic downturns.

The legislature finds that the recent collapse of national credit, housing, financial, and other markets has culminated in the current national economic crisis, which continues to have severe consequences on the local economy, including significant losses in local air transportation, tourism, restaurant, and other industries. 

During severe national and local economic downturns, the legislature finds cost-efficiency to be an important principle in determining which state activities to pursue and prioritize.  Activities that can accomplish multiple goals can help the State weather seasons of financial shortage.  The legislature further finds that the emergency environmental workforce is a program that provides short-term employment to those who need it and provides a workforce to protect Hawaii's environment.  The legislature also finds that the emergency environmental workforce program should be continued, especially during times of war or significant economic hardship that will likely occur in the future.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the establishment of an emergency environmental workforce to provide short-term employment for individuals who have lost their jobs due to recent national and local economic downturns and to continue to provide emergency environmental workforce services during periods of warfare or significant economic hardship."

     2.  By amending section 2 to read:

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

     (1)  Employ, as three-month contract employees, approximately [four hundred to four hundred fifty] individuals who were terminated from their jobs [after the September 11 tragedy as]:

(A) As a result of [the] significant local economic downturn[.  The individuals shall be employed as three-month contract employees]; or

(B) As a result of acts of war;

     (2)  Deploy contract employees to all island mayors certifying a need for environmental clearance and eradication services to supplement current services being provided for the isolation of dengue fever, the eradication of the miconia plant and other invasive plants, and the reduction of coqui frog and fire ant populations; and

     (3)  Coordinate its efforts with the efforts of the invasive species committee on each island."

     3.  By amending section 3 to read:

     "SECTION 3.  The [Research Corporation] 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 for the sum appropriated;

     (2)  Consult with private employers with workforces, which have, or which may be, affected by layoffs [from the economic downturn as a result of the September 11 tragedy] resulting from any of the events set forth in paragraph (1) of section 2 of this Act to develop a recruitment and public information plan;

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

     (4)  Work with island mayors requesting cleaning and eradication services to administer physical examinations, as may be necessary, to qualifying applicants prior to final contract offers;

     (5)  Request 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, and the house speaker every sixty days for the duration of the program; and

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

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011-2012 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2012-2013 to continue the emergency environmental workforce to be administered by the research corporation of the University of Hawaii.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the research corporation of the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2011.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Emergency Environmental Workforce; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the establishment of an emergency environmental workforce program in light of recent national and local economic downturns and wars; provides for the continuation of emergency environmental workforce services during periods of warfare or significant economic hardship. 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.