STAND. COM. REP. NO. 838

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 746

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 746, 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 establish, appropriate moneys for, and require a legislative report regarding a two-year pilot program under the Department of Land and Natural Resources to eradicate the coconut rhinoceros beetle in the State.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Mayor of the County of Maui, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and seven individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee recognizes the dire threat that the coconut rhinoceros beetle poses to the State's plants, including hala and taro, which are important to Hawaii's agricultural biodiversity and Native Hawaiian culture. Your Committee believes that action must be taken to eradicate this threat and preserve the State's environment and way of life.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Naming the new pilot program the "coconut rhinoceros beetle eradication pilot program";

(2) Specifying that community members shall be compensated for the collection and submission of coconut rhinoceros beetles and larvae captured in the wild, and that in no event shall the Department of Land and Natural Resources compensate any person for collecting or submitting any beetle or larva that was bred by human intervention; 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 S.B. No. 746, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 746, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair