STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3329

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2713

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2713, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish an invasive species rapid response trust fund to facilitate the rapid detection and control of newly detected invasive species when the Governor has declared an invasive species emergency.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii System, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, a member of the Maui County Council, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Organic Farming Association, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the invasive species rapid response trust fund will help the State respond to invasive species threats at the time of first detection, when the likelihood of successful eradication is highest and the costs associated with eradication are lowest.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the definition of "newly detected invasive species" to include invasive species that are newly detected in the State or that were previously detected in the State but are newly detected in another county or on another island of the State;

(2) Clarifying that the moneys shall be appropriated to the Department of Land and Natural Resources and expended by the Hawaii Invasive Species Council;

(3) Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts; and

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2713, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2713, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair