STAND. COM. REP. NO. 152-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2045

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2045 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify that state, county, and authorized agents have authority to enter private property to control and eradicate invasive species when there is a reasonable suspicion that invasive species are present on the property.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Chair of the Maui County Council, Vice-Chair of the Maui County Council, Council Member representing District 4 of the County of Hawaii County Council, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, and several individuals testified in support of this measure. One individual testified in opposition.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to January 28, 2045, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2045, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2045, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair