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SB20
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
20
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to the green jobs youth corps
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The
legislature finds that youth and young adults commonly experience unemployment
at higher rates than the general population.
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Prolonged youth unemployment can have profound negative impacts on the
lifetime earnings and well-being of individuals, and therefore, the State must
take action to provide better work opportunities for Hawaii's youth and young
adults.
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The legislature also finds that the State
has set ambitious goals in the areas of economic diversification, environmental
management, and energy self-sufficiency.
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An important element of reaching these goals is investing in a workforce
that is both skilled and experienced in sustainability-related professions.
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The legislature notes that the Civilian
Conservation Corps, a federal work relief program created during the Great
Depression, employed Americans for conservation projects of local, state, and
national benefit, providing opportunities for displaced young adults.
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While the Civilian Conservation Corps disbanded
in 1942, the concept lives on through The Corps Network, a national association
of service and conservation corps that provide opportunities for young adults
and veterans to serve their communities and the environment.
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The State also established the Hawaii youth
conservation corps, a program that provides young individuals with
opportunities in conservation on a smaller scale.
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This program currently operates within the
policies set out under chapter 193, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
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The legislature recognizes that Act 9,
Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, appropriated funds designated for the State by the
federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to establish a
workforce and training program that, among other accomplishments, funded a
short-term green jobs program in partnership with the Hawaii-based nonprofit
organization Kupu Aina Corps (Kupu).
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Kupu's
partnership with conservation and agriculture host sites enabled individuals to
work in their own communities while giving back to the State's economy and
environment.
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Through this short-term
program, over three hundred fifty displaced workers and recent graduates were
matched with work and training opportunities across the State.
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The legislature further recognizes that Act
181, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, authorized the governor to designate the
department of land and natural resources to administer the State's green jobs
youth corps program and provided funding for the administration of the
program.
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In 2022, the legislature
amended the requirements for this program and provided additional funding
through Act 33, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022.
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The legislature additionally finds that the
green jobs youth corps program is an important part of the State's strategy to
diversify the economy and reach its environmental and energy self-sufficiency
goals.
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In addition, this program invests
in building the human capital of young adults who are interested in working in
sustainability-related professions.
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The
legislature therefore finds great value in the continuation of the green jobs
youth corps program, which requires additional funding.
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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
appropriate funds for the continuation of the green jobs youth corps program.
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SECTION 2.
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There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $6,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal
year 2026-2027 for the green jobs youth corps program; provided that,
notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the department of land and natural
resources and its partner or partners may obtain and utilize federal or other
outside funding for the purpose of matching state funds provided for the green
jobs youth corps program.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and
natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 3.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DLNR;
Green Jobs Youth Corps Program; Appropriations
Description:
Makes
appropriations to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to continue the
Green Jobs Youth Corps program.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.