STAND. COM. REP. NO.  81-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2038

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2038 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ALOHA+ CHALLENGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support Hawaii in its endeavors to demonstrate world leadership on conservation and to serve as a global model of the sustainable management of natural resources by providing funding to directly implement three of the six goals outlined in the Aloha+ Challenge: natural resource management, clean energy, and green workforce development.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Conservation Council for Hawaii, The Nature Conservancy, the Oahu Invasive Species Committee, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, the Kauai Watershed Alliance, the West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership, Kahoma Land Co., and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The Department of Transportation supported the intent of the measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting all appropriation amounts; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee notes the following recommended appropriations:

     (1)  $2,500,000 to fund positions and other operating expenditures in the Forest and Outdoor Recreation Program (LNR804) for access, easements, trails, outdoor recreation improvements, environmental education, and other operating expenditures;

     (2)  $4,000,000 to fund other operating expenditures in the Natural Area Reserves and Watershed Management Program (LNR407) for watershed protection;

     (3)  $1,200,000 for the Conservation and Resources Enforcement Program (LNR405) for personal services, other current expenses, equipment, and motor vehicles for the Community Fisheries Enforcement Unit;

     (4)  $5,250,000 for the Native Resources and Fire Protection Program (LNR402) to be expended as directed by the Hawaii Invasive Species Council for invasive species programs statewide;

     (5)  $3,600,000 to fund positions and other operating expenditures in the Native Resources and Fire Protection Program (LNR402) for native species restoration; and

     (6)  $3,500,000 to fund positions and other operating expenditures in the Forestry Resource Management and Development Program (LNR172) for forest reserve system management, including pre-fire suppression of high-fuel areas; private landowner assistance programs; the establishment of renewable energy projects with forest biomass; and the generation of new forestry revenue streams, such as through the carbon market.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2038, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2038, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Water & Land and Agriculture.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair