STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3033

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1716

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1716 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION, CONTROL, OUTREACH, RESEARCH, AND PLANNING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for projects undertaken in accordance with the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, including projects for invasive species prevention, control, outreach, research, and planning.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Office of Planning, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Office of the Mayor of Maui County, Oahu Invasive Species Committee, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Green Growth, and three individuals.

     Your Committees find that the invasion of Hawaii by insects, disease-bearing organisms, snakes, weeds, and other pests is the single greatest threat to Hawaii's economy and natural environment and to the health and lifestyle of Hawaii's people.  Immediate action is needed to mitigate the threats and impacts of invasive species.

     Your Committees further find that pests already cause millions of dollars in crop losses, the extinction of native species, the destruction of native forests, and the spread of disease, but many more harmful pests now threaten to invade Hawaii and wreak further damage.  For example, a 2010 study by Shwiff, et al., found that if brown tree snakes were introduced to Hawaii, the cost to the State in lost tourism, health costs, and damage to power infrastructure could total $2,140,000,000 per year.  Stopping the influx of new pests and containing their spread are essential to Hawaii's current and future well-being.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1716, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________ MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair