STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2947

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2046

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, 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 and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for outreach and education efforts in West Hawaii County regarding the detection and treatment of little fire ants.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii; one member of the Hawaii County Council; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Mauna Mama Kona Coffee; Little Fire Ant Hui; O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; The Vanillerie; and thirty-one individuals.

Your Committee finds that the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, threatens native biodiversity, alters tropical ecosystems, impairs human health, impedes tourism, diminishes agricultural productivity, mars horticulture sales, and accordingly ranks among the world's worst invasive species. Within the State, the County of Hawaii has been affected most by the little fire ant. Your Committee therefore supports all efforts to mitigate and eradicate the little fire ant throughout the County of Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Reinserting an appropriation amount of $50,000 for outreach and education efforts in West Hawaii County regarding detection and treatment of little fire ants;

(2) Inserting an appropriation of $750,000 to the Hawaii Ant Lab of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaii at Hilo to support mitigation of the little fire ant; and

(3) 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2046, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2046, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair