STAND. COM. REP. NO. 325

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 287

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 287 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROCUREMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require, under certain conditions, the incorporation of native Hawaiian land plants into all plans, designs, and specifications for new or renovated landscaping of any building, complex of buildings, facility, complex of facilities, highway, road, or housing developed by the State with public monies.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one state department, three entities, and four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one state department.

 

     Your Committee finds that it is important for the State to do all it can to maintain our native plants and animals.  One of the most efficient methods of accomplishing this is to slow the spread and deleterious impacts of non-native, invasive plants.  Native Hawaiian land plants use less water and require lower maintenance, which inure to the benefit of the environment and decrease maintenance costs.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Phasing in the incorporation of native Hawaiian land plants, with native Hawaiian plants constituting:

 

          (A)  Ten percent or more of all plants used by January 1, 2013; and

 

          (B)  Twenty percent or more of all plants used by January 1, 2015;

 

     (2)  Excluding grass and sod from the definition of native Hawaiian land plants; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 287, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 287, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

 

		____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair