STAND. COM. REP. NO.  765-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2675

      H.D. 1

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. 2675, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RAPID OHIA DEATH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to help to continue pathology research by the United States Department of Agricultural Research Service and other organizations to combat rapid ohia death.

The Aha Moku Advisory Committee, University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Aloha Arborist Association, The Nature Conservancy, and a few individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources provided comments.

     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. 2675, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair