Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1301, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the counties to accelerate the control or eradication of priority invasive species, including the coqui frog.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Invasive Species Council has done an admirable job of controlling or eradicating invasive species in the State. The invasion of foreign species, however, requires enhanced funding to accelerate the fight against priority invasive species, especially the coqui frog.

The funds provided under this measure will allow the counties to fund programs and initiatives that are found to be the most effective in their respective counties to control or eradicate priority invasive species, including the coqui frog.

Your Committee has amended the bill by providing nominal appropriation amounts for purposes of furthering discussion.

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 H.B. No. 1301, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1301, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.