STAND. COM. REP. NO.  561-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2977

      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 Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2977 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to address the coqui frog problem near residential areas by directing the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC), in its required plan, to give priority to eradicating coqui frogs that are on state or county land and within one mile of residential areas.

     The Hawaii Audubon Society and the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs supported this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the intent of this bill.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs opposed this measure.  The Department of Agriculture and The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii submitted comments.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that HISC, in its coqui frog eradication plan, must give priority to eradicating coqui frogs that are on state or county land and within one mile of residential areas.   Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2977, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2977, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair