STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1212

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 316

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 316, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE GREEN JOBS YOUTH CORPS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the continuation of the Green Jobs Youth Corps Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaiʻi State Energy Office; Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; Holomua Collaborative; Kupu; Hawaiʻi Forest Industry Association; Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea; Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; 350Hawaii.org; Hawaiʻi Energy; Elemental Impact; Coalition Earth; and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that youth and young adults experience unemployment at higher rates than the general population and that youth unemployment can have profound, negative effects on the earning potential and well-being of these individuals. Your Committee further finds that the Green Jobs Youth Corps Program provides youth and young adults with employment opportunities and is an important part of the State's strategy to diversify the economy and reach its environmental and energy self-sufficiency goals. Accordingly, this measure ensures that the Green Jobs Youth Corps Program can continue to provide young adults with conservation- and sustainability-related work experiences.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2040, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 316, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 316, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair