Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 817 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the invasive plant and animal species early warning and rapid response strike force and to appropriate funds for twelve full-time equivalent positions to contain, control, and eradicate Caribbean frogs and the plant miconia.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, four members of the Maui County Council, the Oahu Invasive Species Committee, and Annette's Adventures.

Your Committee finds that invasive alien species are the greatest problem facing protection of Hawaii's native species, ecosystems, natural resources, and agricultural industry. While there have been limited successful efforts by both public and private agencies, these programs are critically underfunded and inadequate to prevent new species from entering the State, and to control or eradicate those already here.

Your Committee finds these efforts must be increased if Hawaii's fragile ecosystem is to survive. Your Committee has amended this measure to add a purpose section and to appropriate $600,000 from the airport revenue fund for screening of invasive plant and animal species at airports statewide, which service out-of-state flights.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 817, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 817, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.