Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1301, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds for response and control efforts for programs and initiatives effective in the control or eradication of invasive species such as the coqui frog.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Mayor of Hawaii County, two members of the Hawaii County Council, a member of the Maui County Council, the Big Island Farm Bureau, Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Association of Realtors, Hawaii Pest Control Association, and many concerned individuals supported this measure. The Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species and the Invasive Species Committees on each island supported the intent of this bill. The Department of Agriculture provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1301, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.