STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2496

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2713

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 Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2713 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to mitigate or eradicate newly detected invasive species threats in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaii System; Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Farm Maui LLC; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the invasion of insects, snakes, weeds, disease-bearing organisms, and other pests is the single greatest threat to the State's economy, environment, and health. Action is needed to address the threat of invasive species and mitigate their impact on Hawaii's ecosystems and the Hawaii interagency biosecurity plan is the primary guiding document for improving the prevention, detection, and control of invasive species over its ten-year term. Your Committee finds that it is necessary to appropriate funds to protect the State's resources, agriculture, and health and to execute the Hawaii interagency biosecurity plan.

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2713, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2713, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair