STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2641

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3135

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 3135 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to conduct an albizia prevention control pilot project in the Luluku corridor of Kaneohe.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and one individual.

Your Committees find that albizia trees are an invasive species that are prone to breaking and falling during high winds and tropical storms. Fallen albizia trees caused power outages and other structural damage on the island of Hawaii during tropical storm Iselle in 2014. Albizia trees fell over highways, roads, and driveways in such large numbers during that storm that many people were left trapped in their homes and rescue personnel were prevented from reaching them or, in some cases, returning to their base of operations. This measure seeks to protect the people, environment, and agriculture in Hawaii through the funding of an albizia prevention control pilot project in the Luluku corridor of Kaneohe.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3135 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair