STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1296-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 777

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 777, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CRIMINAL DESTRUCTION OF TREES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the offense of criminal destruction of a tree on state or county property, punishable as a misdemeanor.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Trees for Honolulu's Future, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that trees offer many benefits to addressing the effects of climate change, such as promoting carbon sequestration, reducing ambient temperatures and storm water runoff, increasing wildlife habitat, and providing other quality of life benefits. Establishing criminal penalties to apply to the destruction of trees on state or county property would deter the unauthorized destruction of trees and allow for greater protection, preservation, and enhancement of the State's natural resources.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the offense of criminal destruction of a tree on state or county property does not apply to volunteers or service groups that have permission to remove undesirable trees.

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 S.B. No. 777, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 777, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair