STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1832

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 1162

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1162, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOREST STEWARDSHIP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to update the Forest Stewardship Program administered by the Board of Land and Natural Resources by:

(1) Clarifying the purpose of the Forest Stewardship Program;

(2) Expanding the areas of approved management activities and practices that are eligible for cost-share assistance under the Forest Stewardship Program;

(3) Increasing the limit for payments from the Forest Stewardship Fund for development of approved management plans and allowing payments from the Fund for implementation of approved management plans; and

(4) Amending requirements for applicants to receive Forest Stewardship Program funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, and one individual.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1162, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1162, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair