STAND. COM. REP. NO. 952

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 606

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 606, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COUNTY ACCESS TO PRIVATE PROPERTY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the counties, through their employees or authorized agents, to enter private property to control or eradicate invasive species and pests.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of the Mayor, Maui County; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Conservation Council for Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS; The Nature Conservancy Hawai‘i; and four individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from Best Friends Animal Society and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from The Humane Society of the United States Hawaii.

Your Committees find that invasive species and pests are a persistent and real threat to the State.  Invasive species and pests can swiftly and permanently alter the ecosystem of the State if not effectively eradicated.  To ensure the rapid and complete removal of such species and pests, it is essential to allow the counties, through their employees or authorized agents, to have authority to enter onto private property when necessary to control or eradicate invasive species and pests.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2017.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 606, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 606, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair