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 S.B. No. 1554, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to support the counties in addressing the problem of invasive species by permanently establishing the Environmental Workforce Program (Program).

A member of the Maui County Council, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Invasive Species Committees, Big Island Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Pest Control Association, Hawaii Association of REALTORS, and Kihei Akahi supported this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, and several concerned individuals supported the intent of this bill.

Your Committee believes that the private structural pest control industry has much to offer in the way of expertise and insight into the invasive species problem. Accordingly, the Program is urged to work with the industry in protecting Hawaii's buildings and ecosystem.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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 S.B. No. 1554, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1554, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.