STAND. COM. REP. NO. 452

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 1008

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1008 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify conditions that must be met by applicants to receive funds under the Forest Stewardship Program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, and one individual.

Your Committees find that the Forest Stewardship Program provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners in managing, protecting, and restoring Hawaii's forested lands. This measure will allow long-term leaseholders to participate in the program, increase cost-share support for eligible lands, and clarify that production of non-timber forest products is allowed under the program.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

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

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1008, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1008, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair