HSCR626

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 626

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 897

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 897 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure as it was received by your Committee is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (Division), program ID LNR 172, for the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium.

DLNR, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, County of Hawai‘i Fire Department, County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, The Nature Conservancy Hawaii, and Hawaii Cattlemens Council testified in support of this measure.

For purposes of a public hearing on this measure, your Committee posted a notice of and circulated a proposed H.B. No. 897, H.D. 1 (Proposed Draft). The Proposed Draft amends this measure by:

(1) Deleting a $3,400,000 appropriation for both years of the fiscal biennium for the Division (LNR402) to acquire fire and emergency response equipment;

(2) Amending the $500,000 appropriation for tree planting in Hawaii's forests by specifying that its purpose is for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation;

(3) Adding the following appropriations to be expended by the DLNR:

(A) $925,000 for fiscal year 2019-2020 for improving recreation opportunities in the Hawaii Forest Reserve System;

(B) $350,000 for fiscal year 2019-2020 and $175,000 for fiscal year 2020-2021 to invest in forest products in the Hawaii Forest Reserve System;

(i) Two forester IV, SR22 positions for Kauai and Hawaii Counties;

(ii) One forestry and wildlife technician IV, SR13 position for the City and County of Honolulu;

(iii) One forestry and wildlife worker III, WS05 position for the City and County of Honolulu;

(iv) Four forestry and wildlife worker II, BC05 positions for Maui County;

(v) One general laborer I (nursery worker), BC02 position for Hawaii County; and

(vi) One automotive mechanic I, BC10 position for Hawaii County;

(D) $385,000 for fiscal year 2019-2020 for the purchase of four new motor vehicles, which shall be renewable energy vehicles as available;

(E) $425,000 for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 for new equipment to provide effective response to public safety hazards and civil defense emergencies in forest reserves and state lands, including a grappler with a fork loading attachment for Kauai County; and

(F) $17,454 for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 for a forestry and wildlife technician IV position;

(4) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 897, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 897, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair