STAND. COM. REP. NO.  548

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1325

      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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1325 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reaffirm the Legislature's finding that the implementation of the Department of Agriculture's Biosecurity Program is vital to the State.  Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Clarifies the Department of Agriculture's authority to expend funds from multiple sources for the Biosecurity Program;

     (2)  Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish parameters and construction requirements for biosecurity facilities; and

     (3)  Appropriates funds to enable the Department of Agriculture to complete the implementation of the Biosecurity Program, including import replacement and pest management programs.

The Department of Agriculture, Local Food Coalition, Friends of Clift Tsuji, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Hawai‘i Green Growth, Maui County Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources testified in support of the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee wishes to take this moment to officially acknowledge the exemplary efforts of the Honorable Representative Clift Tsuji, the late Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture.  As a steadfast and unwavering leader who recognized the critical importance of preventing the importation and spread of dangerous invasive species and pests, he helped set the foundation for the planning and implementation of a comprehensive biosecurity infrastructure.  The people of Hawaii owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for his leadership on this and many other issues of statewide concern.  As such, your Committee finds that it is only fitting that this Act should be named in his honor.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by naming the Act the Clift Tsuji Act.

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1325, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1325, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair