STAND. COM. REP. NO. 633

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 561

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 561 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create a rapid response mechanism to immediately address newly detected invasive species threats by:

(1) Establishing the Invasive Species Rapid Response Special Fund;

(2) Establishing procedures for invasive species emergency declarations and expenditures; and

(3) Appropriating funds.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, a Hawai‘i County Councilmember representing District 9, Hawaiian Electric Company Inc., Maui Electric Company, Limited, Hawai‘i Electric Light Company, Inc., Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i, One World One Water, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and a few concerned individuals supported this measure. The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure. The State Procurement Office and Department of Budget and Finance offered comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to be deposited into the Invasive Species Rapid Response Special Fund to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2100.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 561, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 561, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair