STAND. COM. REP. NO. 926

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1325

       H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1325, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Reaffirm the Legislature's finding that the implementation of the Department of Agriculture's biosecurity program is vital to the State;

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

     (3)  Appropriate funds to enable the Department of Agriculture to complete the implementation of the biosecurity program to include import replacement and pest management programs.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Friends of Clift Tsuji; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Maui County Farm Bureau; Local Food Coalition; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Conservation Council for Hawai‘i; four individuals; and a petition signed by numerous individuals.

     Your Committee finds that despite the State's ongoing efforts to detect and eradicate invasive species, Hawaii's fragile island ecosystems are constantly at risk from insects, disease-bearing organisms, snakes, weeds, and other invasive pests.  Your Committee further finds that the Department of Agriculture has created a biosecurity program to fight invasive species on several fronts by:

     (1)  Administering pre-entry measures to minimize the risk of invasive species entering the State;

     (2)  Conducting port-of-entry inspections to detect and quarantine or destroy pests upon arrival; and

     (3)  Administering post-entry measures to mitigate the establishment of invasive species within the State.

     Your Committee finds that the State must encourage continued efforts to fight invasive species.  Your Committee also finds that the late Representative Clift Tsuji was dedicated to supporting Hawaii agriculture and the eradication of invasive species, and your Committee is pleased to pass this measure in his honor.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1325, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair