STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1429

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 160

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 160, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE LEGISLATURE ON POSSIBLE TECHNIQUES TO ELIMINATE MOSQUITOS FROM HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to investigate techniques that can be used to eliminate mosquitoes from Hawaii, the estimated costs of establishing a statewide mosquito eradication program, and the expected environmental impacts of different mosquito eradication techniques.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Pest Control Association, and two concerned individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii System.

     Mosquitoes are an alien species to Hawaii.  They are vectors of diseases that pose significant risks to the public health and environment.  Dengue fever and the zika virus are transmitted by mosquitoes, as is avian malaria, which has decimated the native bird population.

     Thus, your Committee finds that mosquito eradication efforts should be explored.  Accordingly, your Committee supports this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical nonsubstantive amendment for the purpose of clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 160, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 160, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair