STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2072

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2574

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 S.B. No. 2574 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for a biological control containment facility on Oahu.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and O‘ahu County Legislative Priorities Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that biological control, the process of reuniting an invasive species in Hawaii with a carefully tested and narrowly targeted pest from the invasive species' native range, is one of the most cost-effective and safe methods for controlling invasive species in Hawaii. The Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan places investing in biological control research as a high priority; however, the pathogen containment facility for biological control research at the Department of Agriculture has been non-operational for several years. Your Committee finds that the Department of Agriculture needs a state-of-the-art biological control facility to meet safety standards and tackle invasive species that are causing havoc to Hawaii's native species and agricultural endeavors.

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. 2574 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