STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1169

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 26

       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.R. No. 26 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO DOCUMENT AND COLLECT DATA IDENTIFYING ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND REGULATORY CONSEQUENCES OF CROP DEGRADATION CAUSED BY INVASIVE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Agriculture to convene a task force to document and collect data identifying economic, environmental, and regulatory consequences of crop degradation caused by invasive and endangered species in Hawaii.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau and Land Use Research Foundation.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee finds that invasive and endangered species are affecting farmers statewide, and while farmers and ranchers have experienced the negative impacts of invasive and endangered species, they do not necessarily have the training to document the economic and agricultural harm being caused by these damaging pests.  Your Committee further finds that identification of the impacts of invasive and endangered species on Hawaii agriculture is necessary to facilitate a unified federal, state, and county effort to address this agricultural threat.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing the request that the Department of Agriculture convene a task force to document and collect data identifying economic, environmental, and regulatory consequences of crop degradation caused by invasive and endangered species in Hawaii;

     (2)  Requesting that the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources identify economic, environmental, and regulatory consequences of crop degradation caused by invasive and endangered species in Hawaii;

     (3)  Amending the title to reflect its amended purpose; and

     (4)  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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 26, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 26, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair