STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1856

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1066

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1066, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect Hawaii's fragile environment from invasive species by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to collect service fees or charges for pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication services from any importer of commercial shipments; and

     (2)  Establishing and appropriating funds for the Pest Inspection, Quarantine, and Eradication Fund for the operation of pest inspection, quarantine, eradication, and monitoring programs, related facilities, and the execution of emergency remedial measures when pests are detected in the course of inspection and quarantine activities.

DOA; the Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; two members of the Maui County Council; Nature Conservancy of Hawaii; Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter; Hawaii Forest Industry Association; and Hawaii Audubon Society testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, and Department of Budget and Finance supported the intent of this measure.  Horizon Lines and Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association opposed this bill.  Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., and The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 1066, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1066, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair