|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1940 |
|
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012 |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR AGRICULTURE INSPECTORS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that support for the department of agriculture's biosecurity system is important because of the impact of invasive species on Hawaii's agriculture, environment, natural resources, public health, and economy. The legislature also finds that the effectiveness of the biosecurity program is directly related to the number of inspectors performing inspections at the ports and the resources appropriated to implement the various layers of protection within the biosecurity system.
The legislature also finds that the Kahului airport has the facilities and manpower for that port and its corresponding volume of air passengers, baggage, and cargo. Honolulu international airport, which handles the majority of passengers, baggage, and cargo arriving into Hawaii, does not have the inspection facilities or the necessary number of inspectors required to perform effective inspections. The cargo load entering the State through the Honolulu international airport is approximately thirty times that of Kahului airport. Yet, testimony submitted to Senator Daniel Akaka in congressional hearings revealed that the number of inspectors based at the Kahului airport is roughly proportional to the three hundred inspectors based at Honolulu international airport. Senator Akaka highlighted this issue at his field hearing for the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, on October 27, 2011.
Clearly, as most cargo, including high risk cargo, is cleared and inspected at Honolulu harbor and Honolulu international airport, the biosecurity system must focus on Honolulu harbor and Honolulu international airport. This is not only critical, but urgent since the department of transportation is moving forward with the airport and harbor modernization plans, which will increase the capacity of the harbors and airport, thus correspondingly increasing the risk and potential impacts to the State, as airports and harbors are the two major pathways for invasive species into Hawaii. In this regard, increased movement of goods into Hawaii from international origination points will pose the greatest risk. Moreover, the increased risk of incoming pests will require additional rapid response and quarantine measures by plant quarantine inspectors due to the inability of the federal inspection agencies to protect Hawaii from incoming actionable and non-actionable pests through the ports.
As it supports the department of transportation's modernization programs, the legislature must also support funding for adequate inspection at the ports, including additional quarantine and rapid response programs on- and or off-port and staffing for the department of agriculture plant quarantine inspector and support staff at levels sufficient to meet existing requirements prior to the expansion of the port system. Currently, staffing levels for agricultural inspectors are approximately fifty per cent of what is necessary to effectively inspect existing incoming cargo.
Failure to provide such financial support will compromise public health, safety and welfare, agriculture, the environment, and our economy. Accordingly, focus on protecting the state, rather than a particular port or county, should be the priority.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the agricultural development and food security special fund the sum of $2,400,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2012-2013 to fund thirty-eight plant quarantine inspectors and three support staff.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. The department of agriculture shall submit a status update on agricultural inspection activities funded under this Act to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2013 regular session.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on February 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Department of Agriculture; Inspectors; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds from the agriculture development and food security special fund to fund plant quarantine inspectors and support staff. Effective February 1, 2050. (HB1940 HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.