STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1629-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.C.R. No. 208

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 Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 208 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO EXEMPT THE STATE OF HAWAII FROM FEDERAL PREEMPTION PROHIBITING STATE INSPECTION OF PLANTS, PLANT PRODUCTS, AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL ORGANISMS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to address the problem of invasive species by declaring the Legislature's support for congressional action to exempt the state from federal preemption that prohibits state inspection of plants, plant products, and other biological organisms. 

     The Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 208 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair