STAND. COM. REP. NO.  260

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1359

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1359 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect Hawaii's environment and increase efforts to eradicate invasive species by allowing each county to enact and enforce ordinances necessary to prevent, investigate, control, or eradicate invasive species on any public or private premises within the limits of the county.

The Mayor of Maui County, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaiian Electric Companies, American Bird Conservancy, Hawaii Farmers Union United, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Hawai‘i Association of Realtors supported the intent of this measure.  The Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, Ponoholo Ranch Limited, and a concerned individual testified in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 31, 2150.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1359, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1359, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair

____________________________ RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair