STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2174

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 25

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 25, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE PROCESSING OF STATE OF HAWAII PLANT AND ANIMAL DECLARATION FORMS, INCLUDING THE COSTS INVOLVED,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Department of Agriculture and Hawai‘i Tourism Authority report to the Legislature on the processing of the State of Hawaii Plant and Animal Declaration Forms and the costs involved with these forms.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and O‘ahu County Democrats Legislative Priorities Committee. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Office of Planning.

Your Committees find that all passengers, upon arrival to Hawaii, must complete a State of Hawaii Plant and Animal Declaration Form that requires information regarding their potential importation of any plants, including seeds and animals, and requests information regarding the passengers' visitor or resident status. Your Committees further find that the questions on, and process and cost-effectiveness of, the Plant and Animal Declaration Form can be further improved and streamlined to gain greater understanding and additional information that can lead to enhanced enforcement of plant and animal imports to further protect Hawaii from invasive species.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying and correcting several findings related to when inspections of passengers' bags are conducted, where inspections of regulated commodities are conducted, and the means used to regulate the importation of plants and animals into Hawaii; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 25, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 25, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair