THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	744
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's geographic location renders the State susceptible to invasive species that adversely affect the unique and natural biodiversity of the islands. The legislature supports the Hawaii invasive species council, which was established in 2003 to provide policy-level direction, coordination, and planning among federal agencies, state departments, and international and local initiatives for the control and eradication of harmful invasive species infestations throughout the State. The Hawaii invasive species council fulfills its mandate by issuing resolutions, providing plans, and strategically disbursing funds to enhance invasive species prevention, control, research, and stakeholder outreach.

The legislature further finds that the Hawaii invasive species council has effectively mitigated non-indigenous fungal pathogens introduced to Hawaii--specifically, the fungal pathogen that causes rapid ohia death, which was first identified on the island of Hawaii in 2014. In 2015, the Hawaii invasive species council awarded funds to the University of Hawaii to support a post-doctoral researcher to assist an interagency team of scientists in the Hilo area in studying how the disease is transmitted and finding potential treatment options. Additionally, the legislature finds that the interagency effort spearheaded by the Hawaii invasive species council provided a comprehensive response to rapid ohia death that produced hundreds of volunteers statewide who were educated on collecting ohia seeds to further conserve the species.

More recently, in 2020, the fungal pathogen that causes coffee leaf rust was discovered for the first time in the United States on the islands of Hawaii and Maui. The legislature finds that coffee leaf rust causes severe defoliation that greatly reduces the photosynthetic capacity of coffee plants. Long-term effects of coffee leaf rust may include dieback, which has a significant impact on the following year's coffee yield and causes an estimated thirty per cent to eighty per cent loss if not properly treated. The legislature further finds that efforts to control coffee leaf rust are critical to sustaining the coffee industry, which nets over $54,300,000 in revenue annually, and the State must continue to support these efforts.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii invasive species council to classify the fungal pathogen that causes coffee leaf rust as an invasive species in its administrative rules in order to utilize available funding for mitigation efforts, research, and prevention or control actions for coffee leaf rust.

SECTION 2. No later than           , the Hawaii invasive species council shall amend its administrative rules to classify the fungal pathogen that causes coffee leaf rust as an invasive species. The Hawaii invasive species council shall expend any available moneys for the purpose of mitigation efforts, research, and prevention or control actions for coffee leaf rust.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000.

Report Title:

Hawaii Invasive Species Council; Administrative Rules; Coffee Leaf Rust

Description:

Requires the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to classify the fungal pathogen that causes coffee leaf rust as an invasive species in its administrative rules and to direct available funding for mitigation efforts, research, and prevention or control actions for coffee leaf rust. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

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