STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3019

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1050

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1050 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERISLAND MOVEMENT OF INVASIVE SPECIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Mandate the Department of Agriculture and the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to perform specified tasks to address the interisland spread of invasive species;

     (2)  Require the Department of Agriculture and the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to submit annual reports to the Legislature; and

     (3)  Appropriate funds for specified tasks to address the interisland spread of invasive species.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committees find that the interisland spread of invasive species is harmful to agriculture, native biota, public health, and the economic well-being of the State.  Your Committees further find that to more effectively mitigate the spread of invasive species, the Hawaii Invasive Species Council and the Department of Agriculture should use their strengths and resources more efficiently and focus resources on reducing invasive species in agricultural production areas and non-agricultural areas, specifically conservation lands and residential areas, and on performing inspections, certifications, and treatments, if required.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting language that would have required that all information regarding the interisland and export database to be developed by the Department of Agriculture to be kept confidential to the Plant Quarantine Branch;

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2016; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1050, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1050, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Water, Land, and Agriculture,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair