Allows for the harvesting of invasive plants from state owned lands.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Section 183-16.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§183-16.5 Harvesting from state-owned lands. (a) All harvesting of trees on public lands shall be done in accordance with a management plan approved by the board, and in accordance with the provisions regarding conservation of aquatic life, wildlife, and land plants, and the provisions regarding environmental impact statements. For any harvesting of native trees from public lands, the department shall use existing fire prevention and management programs and ensure that appropriate silvicultural practices are used to encourage native biodiversity and ecosystem processes. No native forests on public lands shall be converted to introduced forest plantations.

(b) The board, in accordance with the provisions regarding conservation of aquatic life, wildlife, and land plants, and the provisions regarding environmental impact statements, shall develop a plan that allows for the harvesting of invasive plants from public lands. The board may adopt rules, in accordance with chapter 91, to carry out the purposes of this Act.

(c) The department, in consultation with the board, shall determine the species of plants deemed invasive and shall produce a list of Latin and common names of the plant species deemed invasive. The harvesting of these plants from public lands shall be allowed in accordance with plans developed and rules adopted under subsection (b)."

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for the purposes of developing an invasive plant harvesting plan.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.