Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1378 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to mitigate the harmful effects of the genus Eleutherodactylus (Caribbean) frogs statewide.

The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, the Oahu Invasive Species Committee, and several individuals submitted testimony in support of the measure. The Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted comments on the measure.

Your Committee recognizes that while Caribbean frogs are a serious problem on the islands of Hawaii and Maui, this invasive alien specie is a threat to the entire State. Your Committee also notes that Caribbean frogs threaten residential as well as resort areas because of their extremely loud and incessant calls, which can cause sleepless nights for residents and visitors alike. This problem is of significant concern to the tourism and business industries.

It is your Committee's understanding that there are measures under legislative consideration that link or propose expending revenues received by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) for investment in Hawaii's natural environment. Your Committee respectfully requests the Committee on Finance to consider HTA revenues as a possible funding source for mitigating the effects of Caribbean frogs, as this specie has a direct impact on the State's tourism industry.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1378, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1378, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.