STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1629-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2343

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2343 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect Hawaii's environment and economy and the health and lifestyle of its people by appropriating $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2014-2015 to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for projects undertaken in accordance with the Hawaii Invasive Species Council for invasive species prevention, control, outreach, research, and planning.

The Mayor of the County of Maui, Council Chair of Maui County Council, Department of Health, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, The Nature Conservancy, Hawai‘i Green Growth, Kauai Watershed Alliance, Oahu Invasive Species Committee, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and an individual supported this measure.  The Office of Planning, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Making the appropriation in an unspecified amount; and

(2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to facilitate further discussion.

     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 S.B. No. 2343, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2343, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair