STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2297

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2855

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2855 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY RULES FOR THREATS TO NATURAL RESOURCES OR THE HEALTH OF THE ENVIRONMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize an agency to adopt, amend, or repeal administrative rules on less than thirty days' notice of hearing if the agency finds an imminent peril to the natural resources or health of the environment.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Maui Invasive Species Committee, The Nature Conservancy, and Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.

     Your Committees find it necessary to equip the Department of Land and Natural Resources with legal tools to prevent the interisland transportation of alien invasive species.  The proliferation of axis deer on Hawaii island is the most recent example of the detrimental effects of interisland transportation of alien invasive species.  This alien invasive species causes great damage to native habitat and agricultural crops and endangers automobile drivers on roadways.  A rapid response mechanism is necessary to prevent the axis deer and other alien invasive species from establishing themselves in our State. 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2855 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, and Housing,

____________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair