STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3731

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1854

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1854, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LITTLE FIRE ANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Hawaii Ant Lab, to identify best practices for the treatment of little fire ants;

(2) Require the Department of Agriculture to post those best practices on its website;

(3) Add any application that may defeat the best practices for the treatment of little fire ants, as identified by the Department of Agriculture, to the prohibited acts of pesticides; and

(4) Clarify that training for invasive species be based on the best available technology and best practices in a manner consistent with state and federal laws.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Pest Control Association, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that invasive species, including little fire ants, are a primary threat to Hawaii's agriculture and economy. The Hawaii Ant Lab's dual approach of applying insect growth regulators followed by a barrier treatment for treating little fire ants has been successful in controlling infestations on properties of homeowners and farmers. Because infestation treatments are continually changing and advancing, this measure authorizes the Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Hawaii Ant Lab, to identify and promulgate best practices, and to prohibit certain acts that may interfere with those best practices, to help support the treatments that have been proven to be successful in dealing with this invasive species.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1854, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair