STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3318

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2977

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2977, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to address the coqui frog infestation problem near residential areas.

     Specifically, this measure requires the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC) to give priority in its required coqui frog eradication plan to eradicating coqui frogs on state or county land within one mile of residential areas.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Conservation Council for Hawaii.  Comments were submitted by the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture; and The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii.

     Your Committees find that the coqui frog population has not yet been mitigated to a level acceptable to affected communities, and continues to be a problem in certain areas throughout the State.

     The Board of Land and Natural Resources has suggested to your Committees that the measure's focus on eradicating coqui frogs that are on state or county land and within one mile of residential areas may not be the best approach for all islands, as it may not be the most effective way to prevent introduction or removal of new infestations into new areas or slow the spread of coqui frogs into ecologically sensitive areas.

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by omitting the requirement that priority be given only to eradicating the coqui frogs which are specifically on state or county land and within one mile of residential areas.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2977, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2977, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair