Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 857, S.D. 2, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (Council) to coordinate state efforts to control and eradicate alien invasive species.

The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Oahu Invasive Species Committee, Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, and the Hawaii Audubon Society testified in support of this measure.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, and Na Leo Pohai supported the intent of this measure.

The Attorney General commented on this measure.

Your Committees find that the lack of coordination and accountability are major problems in fighting invasive species in this State. Your Committees believe that a temporary council will be able to coordinate state and county efforts in controlling and eradicating alien invasive species.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 857, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 857, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.