STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1193

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 1062

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1062, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BIOSECURITY PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the overarching, multifaceted biosecurity challenges facing the State by expanding the scope and authority of the Biosecurity Program in the Plant Quarantine Branch of the Department of Agriculture by making it a department-wide program.

Specifically, this measure repeals Part VI of Chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which relates to the Biosecurity Program currently under the Plant Quarantine Branch, and reenacts its provisions into Chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the general authority of the Department of Agriculture.  

The Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Hawaii Tropical Flowers & Foliage Association, Orchid Growers of Hawaii, and five concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Maui County Farm Bureau provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its provisions and substituting therefor, the provisions of H.B. No. 871 H.D. 1, that addresses the spread of invasive species in Hawaii that threatens the economy, natural environment, and the health and lifestyle of its residents by, among other things:

     (1)  Authorizing the Department of Agriculture to establish or participate in private-public partnerships to enhance the Biosecurity Program and quarantine inspection process; provided that Department employees perform the actual inspection;

     (2)  Requiring the Department to adopt rules to establish parameters and construction requirements for biosecurity facilities, including cold storage facilities established by private-public partnerships; and

     (3)  Appropriating funds to enable the Department to complete the implementation of its Biosecurity Program, including an integrated computer manifest system.

     As amended, this measure has an effective date of January 20, 2050, to encourage further discussion.  Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for style, clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1062, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1062, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair