THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1405
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE PLANT QUARANTINE BRANCH.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature 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. The United States Department of Agriculture has stated that foreign pests and disease already cost the United States' economy tens of billions of dollars annually in lower crop values, eradication programs, emergency payments to farmers, and increased costs for food and other natural resources.

Currently, with the spread of coffee leaf rust fungus, State agencies lack the resources, such as quarantine facilities, and response mechanisms to deal with these newly identified threats and may be missing opportunities to eliminate them. Because the introduction of coffee leaf rust fungus as an alien invasive species poses serious problems to the State's ecosystem, any introduction of alien invasive species via the airport or any other entry points throughout the State may lead to significant cumulative impacts. The lack of resources and facilities can allow invasive species to become established in the State, making mitigation efforts more protracted and expensive.

The legislature further finds that the plant quarantine branch of the department of agriculture is tasked with preventing the introduction and spread of harmful pests and diseases into the State by regulating domestic import, performing border inspections, and facilitating post-border detection and control of agricultural pests. The plant quarantine branch is a critical component in meeting the treat of invasive species entering Hawaii and spreading throughout Hawaii through the State's ports of entry.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys out of the general revenues of the State to expand state-run quarantine facilities under the jurisdiction of the department of agriculture's plant quarantine branch.

SECTION 2. The department of agriculture shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations relating to the expenditure of funds towards the purpose of this Act, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2022.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2021-2022 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the expansion of state-run quarantine facilities under the jurisdiction of the department of agriculture's plant quarantine branch.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture; Plant Quarantine Branch; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates general revenues to expand state-run quarantine facilities under the jurisdiction of the department of agriculture's plant quarantine branch. (SD1)

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