Bill Text: HI HB410 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Tree Planting.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-12-10 - Carried over to 2022 Regular Session. [HB410 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-HB410-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
410 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO TREE PLANTING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that trees provide a myriad
of benefits, including reducing climate change, purifying the air, cooling streets,
providing a natural form of air conditioning, saving water by preventing excess
evaporation, preventing water runoff by helping rainwater enter the soil, providing
habitats for wildlife, reinforcing the soil, and controlling erosion.
The legislature further finds that pursuing
educational programs and projects that promote environmental protection,
biodiversity, and climate change mitigation helps students to cultivate socially
responsible and conscious citizenry.
The legislature believes that a program involving
students planting trees will not only help to protect the environment and improve
Hawaii, but will also develop environmentally conscious adults.
The purpose of this Act is to promote the various
benefits of trees by establishing a pilot program to allow certain students to receive
graduation credit for planting trees and learning about the environment.
SECTION 2. (a) The department of education shall establish a legacy tree planting pilot program. The pilot program shall:
(1) Be conducted by one intermediate school or high school within each department of education district, to be selected by the superintendent of education;
(2) Be available to intermediate students in grades seven and eight and to all students in high schools selected pursuant to paragraph (1);
(3) Be incorporated as an optimal activity within the existing science curriculum or established as a separate optional course that can be used to fulfill a science requirement for a student in grade seven or eight to advance to the next grade or to help a student in grade nine to twelve fulfill a graduation requirement to complete a science course;
(4) Require each participating student to plant at least ten trees and care for those trees; and
(5) Include instruction on the importance of the urban canopy, climate change, and restoration reforestation with indigenous trees.
(b) The department of education may coordinate the planting of the trees with the other departments or nonprofit organizations.
(c) The planted species of trees in the pilot program shall be appropriate for the location, climate, and topography; provided that preference shall be given to tree species that are indigenous to Hawaii.
(d) The pilot program shall cease to exist at the end of the 2026-2027 school year.
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 2021-2022 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the legacy tree planting pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of this Act.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
DOE; Tree Planting; Pilot Program; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the
Department of Education to establish a legacy tree planting pilot program for certain
public school students for graduation credit. Appropriates funds for the pilot program. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
