STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3871

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1497

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1497, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish a two-year pilot program to remove invasive species, including albizia, from the area in and around Waiahole Stream on the island of Oahu.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, and two individuals.

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

Your Committee finds that the invasive species pilot program supported by this measure will help the State mitigate the risk of downstream flooding, improve forest health, and reduce the impact of invasive species in and around Waiahole Stream.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the moneys appropriated by the measure shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 H.B. No. 1497, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1497, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair