STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1094

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1040

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1040, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to contract with the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization for services to establish an economic model formula that establishes the impact and cost of mitigating the most significant invasive species in the State;

     (2)  Require the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to submit a report regarding the economic model formula to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016;

     (3)  Appropriate funds to the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to contract with the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization for services to establish an economic model formula;

     (4)  Require the Legislative Reference Bureau, in coordination with the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, to update its 2002 study "Filling the Gaps in the Fight Against Invasive Species" to reflect mitigation efforts and associated costs; and

     (5)  Require the Legislative Reference Bureau to submit a report regarding the updated study to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Nature Conservancy, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Animal Rights Hawaii.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, and Legislative Reference Bureau.

     Your Committee finds that invasive species are one of the greatest threats to the State's agriculture, natural environment, and economy.  Favorable conditions and limited competition provide non-native species with an ideal environment.  A statewide strategy for the prevention, control, research, and outreach regarding invasive species is critical for the protection of the State's environment and economy.  Implementation of this measure will provide a single, comprehensive model for all invasive species and ensure a statewide approach to invasive species policy, control, and prevention.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Legislative Reference Bureau to submit a report regarding the updated study to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2017, rather than the Regular Session of 2016;

     (2)  Eliminating the requirement that the Legislative Reference Bureau coordinate with the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to update its 2002 study;

     (3)  Requiring the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to cooperate with the Legislative Reference Bureau and provide the Legislative Reference Bureau with any information that is required to complete the update; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1040, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1040, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair