SB2976

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the human-induced global climate crisis requires thoughtful but bold responses on many fronts to make Hawaii communities resilient to the impacts of climate change that threaten the very survivability of these fragile islands. Lest Hawaii lose its leadership position in meeting the future of labor, justice, and equity, the legislature embraces Aloha ‘Aina as a green new deal to decarbonize Hawaii's systems of food, energy, and transportation, and to sequester carbon through systems of agriculture, waste management, and ecosystem restoration. This solid foundation finds synergies with expanded access to health, housing, and education, multiplying good jobs and ensuring justice and equity for Hawaii's citizens. This measure represents a forward step in mitigating and adapting Hawaii to inevitable change.

The legislature finds that the invasion of Hawaii by insects, disease-bearing organisms, snakes, weeds, and other pests is the single greatest threat to the State's economy and natural environment, and to the health and lifestyle of the people of Hawaii. Pests already cause millions of dollars in crop losses, the extinction of native species, the destruction of native forests, and the spread of disease, but many more harmful pests now threaten to invade Hawaii and cause more damage. Stopping the influx of new pests and containing their spread is essential to the State's current and future wellbeing. The legislature finds that action is needed to improve the State's programs to mitigate the threats and impacts of invasive species and to effectively implement a biosecurity plan.

As an island state, Hawaii is on the front lines of a climate crisis. Hawaii faces a unique set of issues relating to high biodiversity, isolation, and exposure to external economic shocks. Changing climactic conditions, including shifting rainfall patterns, increase in heat and storm frequency and severity, sea level rise, more destructive king tides, increase in erosion from wave action, and coral bleaching.

Climate change will affect all areas of Hawaii's biosecurity system. Different pests and diseases will become established, existing pests will change distribution and abundance patterns behaving differently, and sleeper pests will become activated. Mitigation strategies and actions should be flexible and adaptable to effectively manage the changing risks and uncertainties driven by climate change.

Hawaii imports eighty-five per cent of its food and is considered highly vulnerable in issues of food security as a state. Climate change significantly increases this vulnerability with sea level rise and intensified weather patterns (draughts, hurricanes, and floods) in the Pacific. In 2016, at the International Union of Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress, as part of Hawaii's commitment to the world and the State, and in order to begin to address this import inequity, the governor pledged to double food production in Hawaii by 2030.

Small farms of ten acres or less in Hawaii produce a significant portion of our locally grown, locally consumed food on each island. The small farm sector of agriculture is growing, yet, the 2017 Census of Agriculture reports the average small-scale farmer in Hawaii makes less than $40,000 per year, with losses of almost $10,000 annually due to the high costs of farming, including land and water. To accomplish the State's 2030 goal for local food production, there is an urgent need to better support small farmers, including through stronger biosecurity to avoid risk to their crops.

For example, in east Maui through the department of land and natural resources division of forestry and wildlife, Maui branch, and the Maui invasive species committee have had to control the high-threat invasive species through Maui county, especially efforts in east Maui to control miconia, a fast-growing weedy tree that can increase erosion and landslides due to its shallow root system. It is established that approximately thirty-seven thousand acres throughout east Maui could contain miconia, which poses a threat to the local environment, cultural practices, and economy.

In addition to miconia, Maui is threatened by invasive species that enter the State through interstate commerce. The transportation of plants has resulted in a significant and growing problem in the county of Maui with the following:

(1) Eleuthrodactylus coqui, commonly known as "coqui frogs";

(2) Wasmannia auropunctata, commonly known as "little fire ants";

(3) Hypothenemus hampei, commonly known as "coffee borer beetles" or "coffee berry borers";

(4) Dynastinae, commonly known as "rhinoceros beetles";

(5) Angiostrongylus cantonensis, commonly known as "rat lungworm disease"; and

(6) Chital, commonly known as "axis deer".

The purpose of this Act is to provide biosecurity to prevent invasive species from entering the State of Hawaii and causing damage and harm to Hawaii's people and cultural identity, economy, and local food security, and to provide funds to establish preclearance quarantine inspections.

SECTION 2. Chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§150A- Preclearance quarantine inspections. (a) The department shall conduct visual, x-ray, and canine preclearance quarantine inspection of persons, baggage, cargo, and other articles that are destined for direct movement to or from the State by either domestic or international travel for high-risk invasive species and agricultural materials.

(b) The domestic preclearance quarantine inspections required by subsection (a) shall be conducted prior to direct travel to or from the State at all:

(1) Departure and interline airports;

(2) Ports of departure; and

(3) Destination sectional center facilities of the United States Postal Service.

SECTION 3. 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 2020-2021 to establish preclearance quarantine inspections to address invasive plants and animals entering the State.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2976
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII