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. 2486 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand the number of members on the invasive species council and place the council with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) for administrative purposes.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Conservation Council of Hawaii, Maui County Farm Bureau, the Nature Conservancy, and six individuals. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture and DLNR. Comments were submitted by the Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that the Invasive Species Council is a very important agent in preventing, controlling, and eradicating invasive species in Hawaii, and the areas that are most affected by the invasive species are on the neighbor islands. Thus, this measure:

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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. 2486, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2486, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Transportation and Government Operations.