Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Energy, Environment, and International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3076 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to designate the coqui frog as a pest subject to control or eradication by the Department of Agriculture.

Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture and Animal Rights Hawai'i. Comments were also submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and one individual.

Your Committees find that the coqui frog population has grown exponentially over the past decade for a variety of reasons, and many residents affected by the coqui frog have been frustrated by the frog population's growing numbers. Your Committees further note that some residents are diligently working to curb the coqui frog's population; however, in some cases, their immediate neighbors are not. As a result, the conscientious resident continually fights re-infestations of the frog on his or her property. Your Committees noted that the Department of Agriculture currently does not have the authority to enter onto private property, without permission, to control coqui frog populations. Thus, this measure designates the coqui frog as a pest to allow the Department of Agriculture to control or eradicate the coqui frog populations on private properties.

Your Committees have amended this measure to make technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Energy, Environment, and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3076, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3076, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.