STAND. COM. REP. NO. 259

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1091

       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 S.B. No. 1091 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Department of Agriculture, after consultation with industry representatives, to enhance and strengthen the biosecurity program in regard to incipient invasive species management programs.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawai‘i System, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii Coffee Association, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Local Food Coalition, and eight individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that despite the State's ongoing efforts to detect and eradicate invasive species, our fragile island ecosystems are constantly at risk from insects, disease-bearing organisms, snakes, weeds, and other invasive pests.  Your Committee further finds that the Department of Agriculture has created a biosecurity program to fight invasive species on several fronts by:

     (1)  Administering pre-entry measures to minimalize the risk of invasive species entering the State;

     (2)  Conducting port-of-entry inspections to detect and quarantine or destroy pests upon arrival; and

     (3)  Administering post-entry measures to mitigate the establishment of invasive species within the State.

     To encourage continued efforts to fight invasive species, your Committee finds that it is necessary to provide funding to support biosecurity programs.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture to consult with environmental organizations, in addition to industry representatives, to enhance and strengthen the biosecurity program; 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 S.B. No. 1091, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1091, 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