STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1812
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 427
H.D. 2
S.D. 2
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 427, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve Hawaii's biosecurity.
Specifically, this measure:
(1) Renames the Department of Agriculture
as the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity;
(2) Establishes a Deputy Chairperson for
Biosecurity position;
(3) Authorizes the Department of
Agriculture and Biosecurity to exercise certain powers if a biosecurity
emergency occurs;
(4) Authorizes the establishment of transitional
facilities for the inspection of goods;
(5) Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity
to enter into agreements with private industries for readiness and response to
prevent and address unwanted organisms;
(6) Establishes an invasive species dashboard;
(7) Authorizes the proposal of plans for the
management and eradication of pests;
(8) Appropriates moneys for biosecurity; and
(9) Appropriates moneys for the Halawa Animal Quarantine
Station and the Halawa Animal Industry Facility.
Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Office of the County Clerk, Council Services Division, County of Kauai; Democratic Party of Hawaii; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Sugarland Farms, Inc; and two individuals.
Your Committees received written comments in opposition to this measure from Carol Kwan Consulting, LLC.
Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Invasive Species Council; Pest Control Board; Matson Navigation Company, Inc.; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Hawaii Ant Lab; Oahu Invasive Species Committee; Big Island Invasive Species Committee.
Your Committees find that Hawaii's ecosystem is considered one of the most invaded on Earth, with numerous invasive species damaging Hawaii's environment and economy. Your Committees believe that a focused biosecurity effort will save money and help to protect Hawaii's environment, agricultural industry, and economy.
Your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Adding language setting the salary of
the Deputy Chairperson of Biosecurity;
(2) Adding language requiring that the
Hawaii Invasive Species Council work with the Chairperson of the Board of
Agriculture during a declared biosecurity emergency;
(3) Adding language to transfer the Invasive
Species Council to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity on July 1,
2026;
(4) Deleting language appropriating moneys and
positions for the Department of Agriculture, Plant Industry Division, Plant Quarantine
Branch;
(5) Deleting language appropriating moneys to
continue the programs in Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024;
(6) Adding three new sections appropriating
unspecified amounts for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Hawaii Ant Lab,
and personnel services salary adjustments for the Department of Agriculture and
Biosecurity; and
(7) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments
for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committees request that, if a Committee on Conference is convened on this measure, the Committee on Conference consider inserting the following amounts into the unspecified appropriations:
(1) $4,250,000 in section 36 for the Hawaii
Invasive Species Council;
(2) $500,000 in section 37 for the Hawaii Ant Lab;
and
(3) $598,716 in section 38 for personnel services
salary differences.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 427, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 427, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary,
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________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair |
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________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair |
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