STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1524-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.R. No. 60

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.R. No. 60 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ESTABLISH A KAUAI INVASIVE SPECIES TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE ISSUES OF INVASIVE ANIMALS IN KAUAI,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Agriculture to establish a Kauai Invasive Species Task Force to study the issues and impacts of invasive animals in Kauai and recommend a comprehensive plan that addresses those issues.

The Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., and an individual supported this measure. An individual opposed this measure. The Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and an individual provided comments.

Your Committee notes that the establishment of a Kauai Invasive Species Task Force may be duplicative of the work currently being done by the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources, and that focus should be given to the Departments' current work on managing invasive animals on Kauai and statewide.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 60 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair