STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2921

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2474

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2474, 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 on its website best practices for the treatment of little fire ants; and

(3) Allow the Pest Control Board to revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew any license for violation of any best practice identified by the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Pest Control Board, Office of the Mayor for the County of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Pest Control Association, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that invasive species are the primary threat to Hawaii's agriculture and economy. The little fire ant is a significant pest that can negatively impact Hawaii's natural resources, agriculture, economy, and the health and safety of Hawaii's residents and visitors. The Department of Agriculture is a funder and partner of the Hawaii Ant Lab, a project of the University of Hawaii Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. The Hawaii Ant Lab employs a dual approach of applying insect growth regulators followed by a barrier treatment for combating little fire ants, which as been successful in controlling infestations on properties of homeowners and farmers. This measure would authorize the Department of Agriculture and the Hawaii Ant Lab to identify best practices and make those best practices known to a wide audience and enforceable by the Board of Pest Control to help protect our communities from little fire ants.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.B. No. 2474, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2474, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair