Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2136 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to implement short-term methods for the control of fireweed.

Your Committee finds that fireweed is a poisonous weed that poses a serious threat to cattle, horses, and other livestock. When ingested in large quantities, the toxic weed causes damage to the liver and neurological system and eventually leads to death. Furthermore, the prolonged drought in Hawaii, followed by the recent heavy rains, have enabled fireweed to spread rapidly on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai, thus threatening Hawaii's native ecosystem and plants.

Accordingly, your Committee finds that fireweed presents a significant threat to the livestock industry in Hawaii and to its environment and that measures to control and eradicate fireweed are in the interest of the public's health, safety, and welfare. Your Committee further finds that this measure will enable the Department of Agriculture to provide assistance to ranchers, farmers, and county personnel for the purpose of initiating fireweed control or eradication projects.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2136, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2136, S.D. 1.