STAND. COM. REP. NO.  856

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1339

      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. 1339, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase efforts and available resources to address invasive species in the State by restructuring the Hawaii Invasive Species Council into a new entity, the Hawaii Invasive Species Authority, to be attached administratively to the Department of Agriculture instead of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, University of Hawaii, Councilmember from District 3 of the Hawaii County Council, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Local Food Coalition, Kauai Invasive Species Committee, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Little Fire Ant HUI, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Green Growth, and many individuals supported this measure.  The Hawaii Farm Bureau and two individuals provided comments.

     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. 1339, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair