Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2247, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to fight specific types of invasive species.

Your Committee finds that invasive species are a major threat to Hawaii's agricultural industry. In particular, local livestock has suffered from fireweed, an extremely poisonous and aggressive weed that invades overgrazed and drought ridden pastures. Fireweed is toxic to cattle, horses, and other livestock and causes liver and neurological damage that can kill within weeks or months of ingestion.

Other invasive species that have caused havoc in the farming community include the coqui frog, fire ant, and the nettle caterpillar.

This bill appropriates funds to assist the agricultural industry in fighting certain invasive species that are very damaging, including the fireweed, coqui frog, fire ant, myrica faya tree, and the nettle caterpillar.

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. 2247, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.