STAND. COM. REP. NO.  721

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 865

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 865, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSPECTION FEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide additional funding for invasive species prevention and control efforts by raising the inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee from 50 cents to $1 for every 1,000 pounds of freight brought into the State, or part thereof.

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Oahu Invasive Species Committee, Maui Invasive Species Committee, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Monsanto Hawaii, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., Matson Navigation Company, Inc., The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Forest Industry Association, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Setting the increased fee at 75 cents, rather than $1, for every 1,000 pounds of freight brought into the State, or part thereof; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 865, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 865, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair