STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1317

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.R. No. 77

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Higher Education, to which was referred H.R. No. 77 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES, TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE THE CURRENT LAWS, RULES, AND STANDARDS OF PRACTICE REGARDING HIGH RISK PLANTS REQUIRING INTERVENTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to request the Department of Agriculture (DOA), in cooperation with the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (UHCTAHR), to convene a working group to evaluate the current laws, rules, and standards of practice regarding high risk plants requiring intervention. 

     The Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS) and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.  DOA opposed this measure.  UHCTAHR, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) submitted comments.

     In light of concerns raised during the public hearing, your Committees have amended this resolution by:

     (1)  Deleting from the working group the two representatives of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC);

     (2)  Adding to the working group a representative from:

          (A)  DOA;

          (B)  Department of Land and Natural Resources;

          (C)  The horticulture industry;

          (D)  The aquaculture industry; and

          (E)  The livestock industry;

     (3)  Extending the deadlines for the working draft, to be completed by HISC and CGAPS, and the final report to the Legislature, to be completed by LRB, by one year; and

     (4)  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 Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 77, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance, in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 77, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Higher Education,

____________________________ SCOTT NISHIMOTO, Chair

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair