Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2417 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation to eradicate and control the coqui frog.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, the Dean of the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Conservation Council of Hawaii, Hawaii Association of Realtors, the Maui Outdoor Circle, the Nature Conservancy, and two individuals. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Animal Rights Hawaii Advocates for Animals and two individuals. Comments were also submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the coqui frog population has grown exponentially over the past decade for many reasons, and the population by the frog has the potential to negatively impact the sales by Hawaii's floriculture industry. Thus, this measure appropriates the necessary funds to help the County of Hawaii eradicate and control the coqui frog population.

Your Committee further finds that the coqui frog problem is not isolated to one county. Rather, it is a problem that exists in all four counties of the State. Thus, your Committee has amended this measure to:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2417, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2417, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.