STAND. COM. REP. NO 133

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1046

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment, Water and Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1046 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to support invasive species prevention, control, research, outreach, and planning;

     (2)  Appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture to prevent the introduction of new pests to the State and to prevent the spread of pests between the islands; and

     (3)  Appropriate funds to the Legislative Reference Bureau and require the Legislative Reference Bureau to update the economic and environmental components of its 2002 study on invasive species.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Oahu Invasive Species Committee, Maui Invasive Species Committee, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Nature Conservancy, Hawaii Green Growth, Hanalei Watershed Hui, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Malama O Puna, and twenty-eight individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the State Procurement Office.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Legislative Reference Bureau.

     Your Committees find that the invasion of insects, disease-bearing organisms, snakes, weeds, and other pests is a major threat to the State's economy, natural environment, and health.  A continued commitment to having the best possible understanding, science, plans, and capacity is necessary to maintain and enhance invasive species prevention and mitigation in Hawaii to effectively protect the State's natural resources and economy and the health and lifestyle of its people.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Limiting the Legislative Reference Bureau's required updates of its 2002 study on invasive species to the economic and other costs and health and safety components of the 2002 study; and

     (2)  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 Energy and Environment, Water and Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1046, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1046, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment, Water and Land, and Agriculture,

____________________________ LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair
	____________________________ RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair