STAND. COM. REP. NO. 924

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 481

       H.D. 1

       S.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. 481, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Department of Agriculture to:

          (A)  Establish a pilot pesticide treatment coupon project within the Department of Agriculture's existing little fire ant program;

          (B)  Create a little fire ant site map; and

          (C)  Report to the Legislature on its progress in implementing the pilot pesticide treatment coupon project and little fire ant site map; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds for the pilot pesticide treatment coupon project and little fire ant site map.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Little Fire Ant HUI, Hawaii Island School Garden Network, Hawaii Pest Control Association, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and four individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and University of Hawaii System.

     Your Committee finds that the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, threatens native biodiversity, alters tropical ecosystems, impairs human health, impedes tourism, diminishes agricultural productivity, mars horticulture sales, and accordingly ranks among the world's worst invasive species.  The County of Hawaii has been affected most by the little fire ant.  The University of Hawaii, the County of Hawaii, and the Department of Agriculture must collaborate to develop and implement effective measures to address the impacts of the little fire ant in the County of Hawaii.  Your Committee therefore finds that the Department of Agriculture needs resources to be more proactive and aggressive in implementing efforts to eradicate the little fire ant.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  As recommended by the Department of Agriculture:

          (A)  Deleting references to the current little fire ant program within the Department of Agriculture, because a current program does not exist within the Department; and

          (B)  Deleting the requirement that the Department of Agriculture create a little fire ant site map, because the Hawai‘i Ant Lab is currently working on such a map; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 481, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 481, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, 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