HB1577

PART I

SECTION 1. The devastating impact of invasive species to Hawaii's agriculture, environment, natural resources, public health, and economy cannot be denied or overstated. In recognition of the consequences of the influx of invasive species into the State, since 2008, the legislature has supported and provided for the department of agriculture biosecurity program.

The legislature finds that funding a detector-dog program will improve the effectiveness of the State's biosecurity program. The legislature further finds that a detector-dog program will provide an important resource to improve interdiction of invasive species coming into Hawaii. These dogs excel in the detection of flora, snakes, and aquatic animals and in public relations. In airport baggage claim areas, the presence of detector-dogs alone assists in deterring smuggling of commodities through the passenger terminal area.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds for detector-dogs in the Hawaii invasive species detection and prevention program.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for detector-dogs in the Hawaii invasive species detection and prevention program within the department of agriculture.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 3. The legislature finds that over ninety per cent of the more than two hundred thousand shipping cargo containers that arrive in Hawaii each year are from the continental United States. Only a small fraction of these containers, however, are inspected by government agencies. Shipping companies conduct random checks of less than five per cent of incoming cargo containers, and these inspections are mainly conducted to ensure that senders of cargo have been properly charged applicable tariffs and fees. The lack of sufficient cargo inspections means that there is ample opportunity for importing illegal fireworks and explosives to the State.

The legislature further finds that increased inspections need to be carefully crafted to avoid delays and inefficiencies in harbor operations that could impede commerce. One promising approach is the use of dogs to inspect cargo after arrival at the harbors and transfer for inter-island transport but prior to retrieval by recipients or distributors.

The purpose of this part is to increase capacity for random inspections of incoming cargo for illegal fireworks and explosives by increasing funding for detector-dog inspections within the department of transportation and establishing a pilot program that uses dogs to inspect cargo shipments after arrival at state harbors and transfer for inter-island transport.

SECTION 4. (a) The departments of defense and transportation, in consultation with federal and state agencies and private organizations involved with shipping cargo into the State and inter-island, shall develop and implement a three-year pilot program to use dogs to inspect incoming cargo for illegal fireworks and explosives sent to the State and between the islands. The program shall begin no later than January 1, 2020, and shall terminate on December 31, 2022.

(b) The pilot program established under subsection (a) shall include the use of dogs to inspect incoming cargo that, after arrival into the State and transfer for inter-island transport, is to be transported from any harbor to:

(1) A freight forwarder warehouse or other facility where consolidated cargo in transport from any state harbor to its final destination is segregated and prepared for delivery; and

(2) Any other commercial facility where cargo containers transported from any state harbor are unloaded.

SECTION 5. No later than twenty days prior to the commencement of the regular sessions of 2021 and 2022, the department of transportation shall submit to the legislature a report on the implementation of the pilot program established pursuant to this part. The report shall include findings and recommendations, including costs expended to date, the estimated cost of operating the detector-dog program on a permanent basis, and any proposed legislation.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the federal funds received under the homeland security grant program the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 to establish and administer the pilot program authorized by this part.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this part.

PART III

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1577
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII