STAND. COM. REP. 2473

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2247

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2247 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE CONTROL OF INVASIVE SPECIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to fight specific types of invasive species.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Board of Agriculture, Maui County Farm Bureau, Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, Sierra Club, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and two individuals. The Board of Land and Natural Resources submitted testimony in opposition and the Nature Conservancy submitted comments.

Your Committees find that invasive species are a major problem for Hawaii's environment and economy. Specifically, fireweed, the coqui frog, fire ant and the nettle caterpillar are causing devastating impacts on our ecosystem. For example, the County of Hawaii estimates that half a million dollars will be needed annually to control the coqui frog. Programs need to be developed so that eradication efforts can be undertaken on a timely basis at the time of discovery.

Moreover, your Committees have identified the myrica faya tree as an invasive species in need of funding to control its growth. Therefore, your Committees have amended this measure to include the myrica faya tree in the appropriation section. To facilitate further discussion on the measure, the appropriation amount has been blanked out.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2247, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2247, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, and Agriculture,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

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J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair