STAND. COM. REP. NO. 797-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2046

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2046, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support the implementation of the Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan by appropriating funds to the Department of Agriculture for outreach and education efforts in West Hawaii county regarding the detection and treatment of little fire ants.

The Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Councilmembers representing Districts 4 and 9 of the Hawaii County Council, Little Fire Ant HUI, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, and a few individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2046, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair