STAND. COM. REP. NO. 691

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1665
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to
which was referred H.B. No. 1665 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE
     IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MAUI INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEE FY
     2000 ACTION PLAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to make an appropriation for the
Maui Invasive Species Committee Action Plan (MISCAP).

     The MISCAP is a voluntary partnership of government, private
and nonprofit organizations aimed at eradicating established
invasive species, which can significantly impact native plant and
animal communities and ecosystems.  The MISCAP has applied for
funds which require non-federal matching funds.  An appropriation
of $293,594 would provide cost-sharing funding to match $206,000
in requested federal funds and a portion of $175,000 contributed
by the County of Maui.

     Testimony in favor of this measure was submitted by: TRI-
ISLE RC & D, three members of the Maui County Council, The Nature
Conservancy of Hawaii, University of Hawaii Environmental Center,
and one individual.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources
supports the intent of the bill but does not support the bill as
proposed, as it would detract from the Administration's current
priorities as outlined in the Executive Budget.


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 691
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committee finds that the public-private partnership
developed through MISCAP is cost-effective, as well as a valuable
tool for maximizing and leveraging taxpayers dollars.  The
negative impacts to communities, ecosystems, watersheds,
agriculture and tourism industries will cost the state more money
in the long-run should we choose not to combat the problem of
invasive species now.

     Upon consideration, Your Committee has amended this bill by
reducing the appropriation to $1.00 for continued discussion in
the Committee on Finance. 
        
     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached
to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 1665, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No.
1665, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.


                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Energy and
                                   Environmental Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair