STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1080-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2343

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, 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 against the threat and impact of invasive species by appropriating $5,000,000 for projects undertaken in accordance with the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, including invasive species prevention, control, outreach, research, and planning.

The Department of Agriculture; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Transportation; Oahu Invasive Species Committee; Mayor of the County of Maui; Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and another member of Maui County Council; Hawaii Farm Bureau; The Nature Conservancy; Hawaii Green Growth; and a concerned individual support this bill.  The Office of Planning supported this measure, subject to any adverse impacts on the Executive Budget.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2343 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair