STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2298

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2907

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2907 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 Hawaii Invasive Species Council to classify coffee leaf rust as an invasive species in its administrative rules and direct available funding to mitigation efforts, research, and prevention or control actions of coffee leaf rust.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i; Hawaii Coffee Association; Hawaii Coffee Growers Association; Rusty's Hawaiian, LLC; Isla Custom Coffees; Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council; and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council.

Your Committee finds that coffee leaf rust poses a substantial threat to Hawaii's coffee industry. This measure addresses an urgent need for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to direct resources to combat coffee leaf rust in the State.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2907 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair