CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 142

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2011

RE:    H.B. No. 1568

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1568, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this bill is to protect Hawaii's natural environment from the threat of invasive species and assist Hawaii's agricultural industry by authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to design and construct biosecurity and inspection facilities for the Department of Agriculture (DOA) at Hawaii's airports and harbors.

     Hawaii is an island state with numerous fragile ecosystems that can be destroyed by the introduction of invasive species, including noxious weeds, insects, and other pests.  Such destruction not only threatens Hawaii's natural environment but also harms our economy, agricultural industry, and the health and lifestyle of our residents.  Unfortunately, Hawaii is also one of the most isolated populated land masses in the world, which forces us to import most of the products that we use, thereby creating transportation pathways for invasive species to arrive in our state.  Stopping the threat of invasive species at these ports of entry by constructing and operating biosecurity facilities is the most effective and economical means of protecting our islands.

     The biosecurity facilities will also serve as a barrier to the exporting of invasive species to other parts of the world, which could result in embargos and quarantines of produce and other goods from Hawaii.  Proper inspection facilities will provide safeguards and will also assist the agricultural industry in alleviating the delay experienced when shipping perishable items out-of-state.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Requiring DOT to coordinate with DOA to facilitate the inspection, consolidation, deconsolidation, and treatment of imported and exported agriculture and other inspected commodities to meet the needs of each island and to facilitate the safe movement of enplaned and deplaned air cargo through the airports;

     (2)  Requiring DOT to provide space at state commercial harbors for biosecurity and inspection facilities and to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of maritime cargo through the commercial harbors;

     (3)  Requiring DOT and DOA to plan, design, and construct biosecurity, inspection, consolidation, deconsolidation, and treatment facilities for use by DOA to enhance the efficient and safe movement of imported and exported maritime cargo, to include food safety and food security guidelines and standards;

     (4)  Deleting the authorization to issue general obligation bonds for DOT to design and construct biosecurity and inspection facilities for DOA at Hawaii's airports and harbors;

     (5)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2011; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1568, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1568, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

_______________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair	____________________________ JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Co-Chair
_______________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Co-Chair	____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Co-Chair
_______________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Co-Chair	____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Co-Chair