STAND. COM. REP. NO.  972

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1006

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1006 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Hawaii Ant Lab of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaii for personnel and equipment to support mitigation of the little fire ant.

The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Pest Control Association, Little Fire Ant HUI, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Conservation Council for Hawaii, and two individuals provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation and allocation amounts to unspecified amounts;

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

     (3)  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. 1006, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1006, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair