STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2968

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1869

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1869, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture to provide assistance and funding to the National Wildlife Research Center of the United States Department of Agriculture to:

     (1)  Complete the research assessment of the negative impacts of the rose-ringed parakeet on the island of Kauai initiated by the Center in 2011; and

     (2)  Develop and implement an effective control plan to reduce the negative impacts of the rose-ringed parakeet on the island of Kauai.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Aha Moku Advisory Committee, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri, native to Africa and India, is considered to be one of the most significant agricultural pests of important food crops.  The National Wildlife Research Center of the United States Department of Agriculture estimated there were more than two thousand rose-ringed parakeets on Kauai as of 2011 and concluded that these birds are probably dispersing invasive plant species, including lilikoi and strawberry and yellow guava; possibly destroying native seeds, including koa; and potentially competing with native birds for fruits, seeds, and nesting sites.  Additionally, the parakeets are damaging and reducing the yield of many crops, including lychee, longan, and rambutan.  Your Committee finds that there is a strong need for a more cost-effective means to control the damage created by rose-ringed parakeets on Kauai to reduce the potential for damage to economically important crops and natural resources, and avoid any negative effects on the health and safety of Kauai residents and visitors.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2016.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1869, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1869, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair