STAND. COM. REP. NO.  362

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 481

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 481 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to enable the Department of Agriculture (Department) to implement its little fire ant program proactively and aggressively by:

(1)  Establishing a Pilot Pesticide Treatment Coupon Project within the Department's existing little fire ant program;

(2)  Creating a little fire ant site map for the County of Hawaii; and

(3)  Appropriating funds for these purposes.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Council Member representing District 3 of the Hawaii County Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Pest Control Association, Hawaii Farmers & Ranchers United, and many individuals supported this measure.  The Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species supported the intent of this measure.  An individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Agriculture and University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources provided comments.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Replacing the $300,000 appropriation with a blank amount; and

     (2)  Changing its effective date to January 28, 2081, to encourage further discussion.

     Should the Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture respectfully request that it consider appropriating $300,000 for the establishment of the Pilot Pesticide Treatment Coupon Project and the little fire ant site map.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 481, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 481, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture,

____________________________ RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair

____________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair