STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1292

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 234

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 234 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO EXPAND ITS QUARANTINE FACILITIES OF THE PLANT QUARANTINE BRANCH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Agriculture to expand the quarantine facilities of the plant quarantine branch.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Coffee Association and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that responding quickly to newly detected invasive species can often prevent the species from becoming firmly established, saving taxpayers money in the long term. Your Committee notes that administrative rules may allow the Board of Agriculture to shorten or exempt existing quarantine of restricted plants, provided that the plants can be propagated or imported under procedures that would mitigate the risk of pest introductions with associated materials. Your Committee further finds that the Plant Quarantine Branch of the Department of Agriculture is a critical component in meeting the threat of invasive species entering Hawaii and spreading throughout the State. Increased capacity to appropriately quarantine regulated plant materials will benefit growers by enhancing the Department of Agriculture's ability to prevent the entry of invasive species into the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Urging the Department of Agriculture to determine the cost of quarantine facilities in affected areas; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 234, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 234, S.D. 1.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair