STAND. COM. REP. NO. 265

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1239

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1239 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RAPID OHIA DEATH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for research on prevention and mitigation of rapid ohia death.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawai‘i System, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawai‘i Green Growth, Kalihi Palama Hawaiian Civic Club, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and twelve individuals.

     Your Committee finds that ohia makes up about fifty percent of the State's native forest and is a keystone species in native watershed areas.  Rapid ohia death is devastating thousands of acres of native forest on the island of Hawaii.  Your Committee further finds that rapid ohia death is a critical threat to the State's native forests, so it is crucial that funds are directed to address this issue.

     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 S.B. No. 1239 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair