STAND. COM. REP. NO. 454

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 636

       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 Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 636 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish an invasive species rapid response special fund, establish procedures for declaring an invasive species emergency and making fund expenditures without legislative approval, and appropriate monies to the fund.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Conservation Council of Hawai‘i, and four individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from Save an Animal, Best Friends Animal Society, and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, State Procurement Office, and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau.

     Your Committees find that invasive species can significantly impact the native ecosystems, agriculture, economy, and culture of Hawaii.  Your Committees further find that an invasive species rapid response fund will better enable the State to respond to threats from invasive species at the time of first detection, increasing the effectiveness of the response and lowering the cost of eradication.  Finally, your Committees note that S.B. No. 776 proposes restructuring the Hawaii Invasive Species Council as the Hawaii Invasive Species Authority, and the special fund proposed under this measure should be coordinated with S.B. No. 776, as amended, as both measures move through the Legislative process.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing the exemption from chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as it is an unnecessary restatement of a power already held by the Governor pursuant to section 127A‑12(b)(8), Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 636, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 636, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair