STAND. COM. REP. NO.  19

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1013

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1013 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the efforts and resources in addressing invasive species in the State by restructuring the Hawaii Invasive Species Council into a new entity, the Hawaii Invasive Species Authority, attached administratively to the Department of Agriculture.

The Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaii, Office of Environmental Quality Control of the Department of Health, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Hawaii Cattlemens Council, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Local Food Coalition, Ponoholo Ranch Limited, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and several individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Best Friends Animal Society testified in opposition to this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1013 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair