STAND. COM. REP. NO.  559-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2843

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2843 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide additional funding for pest inspections, quarantine, and eradication by:

     (1)  Expanding the items subject to the inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee (inspection fee) to include any freight, including air freight or other means of transporting freight, brought into the state;

     (2)  Making the existing inspection fee of $1 for each twenty-foot equivalent unit per container applicable to marine commercial containers; and

     (3)  Establishing that freight transported into the state that is not in a container shall be assessed an inspection fee pursuant to rules.

     In addition, this bill requires the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to assess fines for violations through rulemaking.

     The Hawaii County Council, Hawaii Audubon Society, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Maui County Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Conservation Council for Hawaii, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  Horizon Lines, LLC., Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., and Matson Navigation Company, Inc., supported this bill with amendments.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the intent of this measure.  DOA submitted comments.

     Your Committees find that the revenues generated by the inspection fee will help support the DOA's Biosecurity Program to protect our state from pests and invasive species that may be imported into our state.  The DOA has indicated it will continue its concerted efforts to obtain federal funding to supplement the funding provided in this measure and from other state sources.  Your Committees find that if federal funds are delayed or unavailable, general funds may be used, at least on a temporary basis, to make up for the shortfall. 

     Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the existing $1 inspection fee for each twenty-foot equivalent unit per marine commercial container to an unspecified fee amount; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Transportation that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2843, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2843, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Transportation,

____________________________ JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair