STAND. COM. REP. NO.  890-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2542

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2542, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AUDITOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to enhance the State's efforts to ensure biosecurity and reduce the introduction of invasive species to Hawaii by requiring the Auditor to conduct a financial and performance audit of the duties and facilities of the Plant Quarantine Branch of the Department of Agriculture, including the Branch's Biosecurity Program and related programs.

The Hawaii Tropical Flowers Council, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Orchid Growers of Hawaii, and two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to facilitate further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2542, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2542, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair