STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1730

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.C.R. No. 74

      S.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 74, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE INTERAGENCY PLAN FOR THE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF ALBIZIA THROUGHOUT THE STATE; STARTING WITH THE ISLAND OF HAWAII, AND TO PARTNER TO UTILIZE ALBIZIA TREES THAT ARE REMOVED AND URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO INVESTIGATE BIOCONTROL AGENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF ALBIZIA,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the rapid spread of Albizia trees in the State.  Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Urges the Invasive Species Council to:

          (A)  Develop and implement a comprehensive interagency plan for the control and eradication of Albizia throughout the State, beginning with the Island of Hawaii; and

          (B)  Find partners to utilize the Albizia trees that are removed; and

     (2)  Urges the Department of Agriculture to investigate biocontrol agents for the control of Albizia.

The Department of Agriclture, an individual council member of the Hawaii County Council, Malama O Puna, Mainstreet Pahoa, East Hawaii Community Development Corporation, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, and several individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaii Electric Light Company provided comments on this measure.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 74, S.D. 1, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair

____________________________ JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair