Bill Text: HI HB1994 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 1994 (Prior Session Legislation)

HI State Legislature page for HB1994

Bill Title: Relating To The Department Of Education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-03-11 - Referred to EDU/AEN, WAM. [HB1994 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-HB1994-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1994
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that hotter temperatures induced by climate change affect a student's ability to play, gather, and learn outside while attending school. To reduce the effect of hotter temperatures on students at department of education schools, the department can take a more proactive approach to increase the tree canopy on school campuses. In addition to lowering the temperature on campuses through shade, transpiration, and reduction of the heat island effect, trees will also absorb storm water, clean the air, beautify campuses, and help reach county and state environmental goals. Furthermore, planting and caring for trees on campuses provide a multitude of learning opportunities, including learning the role trees play in the overall health of the ecosystem, cultural uses of indigenous trees, tree propagation and care, and commercial uses of trees.

The legislature further finds that, during the regular session of 2021, the legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 68, which requested that the department of education create a landscape management plan with goals to increase tree canopies on public school grounds, document existing inventory and talent, and identify additional resources required to implement and sustain the plan.

The department of education facilities development branch has subcontracted a thorough professional inventory of campus trees. The inventory includes digital maps and information on each tree, including a risk assessment, note of structural defects, entity assigned responsibility for maintenance, pruning contracts, and contact for emergency help. At the end of 2021, seventeen school inventories were completed and an additional two or three will be added each month going forward. The inventory will be used to identify schools with few trees and allow landscape architects to identify good spots for new trees.

The legislature additionally finds that the department of education can utilize the opportunity for managing the tree inventory as an educational opportunity. There are thirty-four existing agriculture and natural resource programs in schools statewide that are of different sizes and educate different grades. These agriculture and natural resource programs can support educational activities and encourage propagation of native or fruit trees that can be planted and shared with department of education schools and communities.

The legislature also finds that the department of education needs further personnel to manage the tree inventory. The department of education has one full-time arborist who is responsible for overseeing all trees on all campuses statewide. An additional full-time arborist will increase the ability of the department of education to manage the existing tree inventory and add the right trees in the right places so that the tree canopy will be expanded in a manner that is safe, prevents damage to infrastructure, prevents liability for the school and department of education, and maintains open outdoor space for school use.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Establish the shade and fruit tree program in the department of education; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the shade and fruit tree program and for an arborist position to support the program.

SECTION 2. There is established in the department of education a shade and fruit tree program that may:

(1) Utilize existing agriculture and natural resource programs in schools and establish further agriculture and natural resource programs in other schools to educate students and propagate native shade trees and fruit trees, which shall be planted or shared amongst all department schools;

(2) Support schools with infrastructure and supplies to establish nurseries for native shade tree and fruit tree seedlings;

(3) Encourage the propagation of native shade trees and fruit trees appropriate to each school's climate;

(4) Oversee the variety of native trees and fruit trees for school planting and ensure their supply; and

(5) Encourage the inclusion of students of all grades and ages to participate in the care of native trees and fruit trees.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the administration of the shade and fruit tree program established pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the department of education to establish and hire one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent arborist position.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

DOE; Shade and Fruit Tree Program; Arborist; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the shade and fruit tree program in the department of education to support educational activities and encourage propagation of native shade trees and fruit trees for planting in department schools. Appropriates funds for the program and to establish an arborist position. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)

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