STAND. COM. REP. NO.  861

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 Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 481, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to facilitate a more proactive and aggressive implementation of the Department of Agriculture's current little fire ant program by:

(1)  Establishing a Pilot Pesticide Treatment Coupon Project within the current little fire ant program;

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

(3)  Appropriating funds for purposes of the coupon project and the site map.

The Hawaii County Council, a member of the Hawaii County Council, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Pest Control Association, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Little Fire Ant HUI, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaii, Office of the Mayor of Hawaii County, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and a few concerned individuals submitted 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. 481, 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