Bill Text: HI SR62 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Labor And Industrial Relations And Department Of Business, Economic Development, And Tourism To Work Together To Establish A Statewide Green Jobs Corps Program To Support Economic Diversification, Alleviate The Unemployment Impacts Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, And Assist The State In Meeting Its Clean Energy Goals.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-11 - Referred to EET/LCA. [SR62 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2021-SR62-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.R. NO. |
62 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE RESOLUTION
REQUESTing the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism TO work together to establish a Statewide Green Jobs Corps program to support economic diversification, alleviate the unemployment impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and assist the State in meeting its clean energy Goals.
WHEREAS, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused an unprecedented disruption in the State's economy that resulted in the State's unemployment rate, which was one of the lowest in the country, to surge to one of the highest, thereby creating a need for localized and diverse workforce development initiatives; and
WHEREAS, the current standstill in the tourism and hospitality industry, the largest industry in Hawaii, due to the COVID-19 pandemic represents a unique opportunity for the State to build a more resilient, equitable, and diversified economy; and
WHEREAS, to support a comprehensive economic recovery and continuing growth, the State must invest in its community and emerging economic sectors to avail residents educational and training opportunities to succeed; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii has committed to meeting the energy needs of its people in a safe, reliable, economical and environmentally sound manner, as evidenced by Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, which established a renewable portfolio standards target of one hundred percent renewable electric energy by 2045; Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, which requires replacement of all cesspools by 2050; and Act 15, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, which established a statewide zero emissions clean economy target to sequester more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than emitted by 2045; and
WHEREAS, after the Great Depression, the United States implemented the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) program from 1933 to 1942, as a major part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, which provided Americans with work related to the conservation and development of natural resources to alleviate the economic distress, which led to a greater public awareness and appreciation of the nation's natural resources and the continued need for a carefully planned, comprehensive national program for the protection and development of natural resources; and
WHEREAS, local efforts to reduce energy dependence and slow the threat of global warning have the potential to create significant business opportunities, as evidenced by the Oakland Green Job Corps, which is a program created in 2008 by the City of Oakland to meet the needs of local green businesses by recruiting and providing its residents with world-class job training, environmental education, and employment opportunities in the green sector, including but not limited to installation of solar panels on rooftops, weatherizing of homes to save energy and lower utility bills, and construction of new green buildings; and
WHEREAS, the creation of a statewide Jobs Corps program similar to the CCC and the Oakland Green Job Corps would provide residents of Hawaii who were economically impacted by the COVID‑19 pandemic with opportunities to receive the necessary education and training for employment opportunities in the resiliency and green sectors, such as local agriculture, conservation, climate adaptation, renewable energy, cesspool conversions, and technology industries; and
WHEREAS, the Aloha Connects Innovation program of the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii and KUPU ‘Aina Corps, two workforce development initiatives launched by the State with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds, are potential programs to integrate and build upon in establishing a statewide Jobs Corps program; and
WHEREAS, the report "From Today to Tomorrow: A Talent Roadmap to Support Economic Recovery in Hawai‘i" produced in collaboration by the Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Strada Education Network, Jobs for the Future, Hawai‘i P-20 and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii provides an aligned framework to establish a statewide Jobs Corps program by outlining a talent development strategy through expanding work-based learning, retraining, credentialing programs, industry-driven solutions, and partnerships; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism are requested to work together to establish a statewide Green Jobs Corps program to support economic diversification, alleviate the unemployment impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and assist the State in meeting its clean energy goals; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Workforce Development Council and Hawaii State Energy Office are requested to advise in the effort to establish a statewide Green Jobs Corps program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that state lands classified as conservation district be considered as properties to manage and steward through workforce development initiatives; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Labor and Industrial Relations are requested to identify public-private partnerships and outline components of a statewide Green Jobs Corps program that focuses on resiliency and green sector jobs and submit a report of their findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Labor and Industrial Relations; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Statewide Green Job Corps
