STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1270-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2850

      S.D. 2

      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 Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2850, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to prevent and control the importation and spread of pests by:

     (1)  Statutorily establishing the Department of Agriculture's (DOA's) Biosecurity Program (Program); and

     (2)  Providing funding for the Program, and for the planning of interim and permanent joint inspection biosecurity facilities.

     DOA, Department of Transportation, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Conservation Council for Hawaii, and the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species supported this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted comments.

     Your Committees encourage DOA to continue its ongoing risk assessments with respect to invasive species prevention and control, with particular emphasis on preventing the spread of invasive species from one island to another.  In addition, your Committees urge DOA to continue its efforts to communicate with stakeholders regarding its plans to implement the Program.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; 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 Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2850, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2850, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair