STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1023

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1006

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1006, H.D. 1, 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 appropriate funds to the Hawaii Ant Lab of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaii, to support mitigation of the little fire ant.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates funds for:

     (1)  Two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) operator positions and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) supervisor position;

     (2)  A vehicle and operating costs of public outreach and treatment;

     (3)  Ant baits;

     (4)  Field equipment and personal protective equipment; and

     (5)  Computers and printers.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii; Conservation Council for Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Little Fire Ant HUI; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and two individuals.

     Your Committees find that the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, threatens native biodiversity, alters tropical ecosystems, impairs human health, impedes tourism, diminishes agricultural productivity, mars horticulture sales, and accordingly ranks among the world's worst invasive species.  The County of Hawaii has been affected most by the little fire ant.  Your Committees therefore support all efforts to mitigate and eradicate the little fire ant.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by making it effective on July 1, 2017.

     Your Committees recommend that if your Committee on Ways and Means chooses to pass this measure, that it consider inserting an appropriation amount of $360,000 for the Hawaii Ant Lab of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaii, to support mitigation of the little fire ant.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1006, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1006, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education,

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair