STAND. COM. REP. NO. 553-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2265

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2265 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Invasive Species Rapid Response Special Fund to be available to the Invasive Species Council for expenditure when the Governor declares that an invasive species emergency exists.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, one member of the Hawaii County Council, one member of the Maui County Council, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Invasive Species Committee of Pauuilo Mauka Kalopa Community Association, and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Finance, and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that responding quickly to newly detected invasive species often prevents the species from becoming firmly established, thus saving taxpayers money in the long term. State agencies currently lack the resources and response mechanisms to deal with newly identified threats from invasive species and may be missing opportunities to eliminate them. Delays may allow invasive species to become established in the State, and consequently, may make mitigation efforts more protracted and expensive.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; provided that the appropriation shall take effect on July 1, 2020; and

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

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. 2265, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2265, 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