STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1209

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 776

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 776, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to mitigate the threats and impacts of invasive species in the State by:

     (1)  Restructuring the Hawaii Invasive Species Council into a new entity, the Hawaii Invasive Species Authority (Authority), to be attached administratively to the Department of Agriculture; and

     (2)  Appropriating funds for the operation of the Authority and for relevant interagency invasive species projects and research.

The Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Department of Land and Natural Resources, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Island School Garden Network, Hawaii Green Growth, Local Food Coalition, Democratic Party of Hawaii, and three individuals supported this measure.  The Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.  Animal Rights Hawaii opposed this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, and Hawaii Farm Bureau provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying the definition of "department" to mean any governmental entity whose representative or designee is a member of the Authority;

     (2)  Clarifying that the invasive species list designated for control or eradication shall be adopted by the Authority by rule;

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 31, 2150, to encourage further discussion; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 776, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 776, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair