Report Title:

Dept. of Agriculture; User Fees; Inspections; Invasive Species

Description:

Authorizes the department of agriculture to charge user fees for the inspection, permitting and other services provided by the Department.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2051

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the silent invasion of Hawai'i by insects, disease-bearing organisms, snakes, weeds, and other pests is one of the single greatest threats to Hawai'i's economy and natural environment and to the health and lifestyle of Hawai'i's people. Invasive species already cause millions of dollars in crop losses, the extinction of native species, the destruction of native forests, and the spread of disease. Even one new pest, such as the brown tree snake or the red imported fire ant, could forever change the character of the islands. Stopping the influx of new invasive species is essential to Hawai'i's future well-being. Likewise, it is essential that the State have the most reasonably effective mechanisms in place to protect against introduction of invasive pests at ports of entry and that those who benefit from movement of goods and other articles into the State share in a reasonable portion of the costs of providing such protections.

The purpose of this Act is to authorize the department of agriculture to charge appropriate user fees for the inspection, quarantine, and permitting services the department provides to those individuals and entities seeking to import or otherwise bring goods and other articles into the State.

SECTION 2. Section 141-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§141-5 Charges for inspection, etc. The department of agriculture [shall], with the approval of the governor, shall adopt a reasonable scale of charges, which may be changed from time to time, for the inspection, disinfection, fumigation, and quarantine, authorized, required, or permitted by this chapter, [or chapter] chapters 142, [or] 150[.], or 150A. Certificates and permits in [such] those chapters provided for concerning articles or animals imported, or proposed to be imported, into the State, and the charges so provided for, shall be paid for in advance before any certificate or permit is delivered, or any of [such] the articles or animals are permitted to be landed. If thereafter further expense is incurred in the inspection, treatment, or quarantine of any of [such] the articles or animals, the charges [therefor] shall be paid before any of [such] the articles or animals shall be delivered."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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