STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1206-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2920

      S.D. 2

      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 Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2920, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the County of Hawaii's Department of Parks and Recreation to implement a little fire ant pilot project to address the spread of little fire ants and develop model strategies to eradicate the threat of little fire ants.

The measure also appropriates an unspecified sum to fund the pilot project.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Malu'Aina, the Oahu Invasive Species Committee, and five individuals provided testimony in support of the measure.  The Department of Agriculture and The Nature Conservancy provided comments.

     Your Committee finds that the little fire ant ranks among the world's worst invasive species, as it threatens native biodiversity, alters tropical ecosystems, impairs human health, impedes tourism, diminishes agricultural productivity, and reduces horticulture sales.  Your Committee believes that this measure will provide additional research, new tools, and increased public awareness that are needed to stop the further establishment and spread of the little fire ant.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Hawaii Ant Lab of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaii to implement a canine detection team pilot project, and appropriating an unspecified sum for the pilot project;

     (2)  Requiring the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to implement a statewide awareness and education campaign to assist in the prevention and eradication of little fire ants, and appropriating an unspecified sum for the campaign;

     (3)  Making conforming amendments to Section 1 of the measure to reflect the foregoing substantive amendments;

     (4)  Changing the effective date from July 1, 2050, to July 1, 2014; and

     (5)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee recommends that the following amounts be inserted by the Committee on Finance for the respective initiatives:

     (1)  $306,237 for the County of Hawaii little fire ant pilot project;

     (2)  $250,000 for the canine detection team pilot project; and

     (3)  $350,000 for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to implement a statewide awareness and education campaign.

     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. 2920, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2920, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair