Report Title:

Invasive Species; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the invasive species council and the department of agriculture to eradicate invasive species, prevent them from spreading, and protect Hawaii's native species.

 


THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2909

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to invasive species.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  According to the department of land and natural resources, alien species in Hawaii have caused significant damage to the environment, the economy, Hawaii's natural resources, native Hawaiian species, and the local ecosystem.

     At one time, Hawaii had thousands of species that were found nowhere else on earth due to the island's geographic isolation.  Today, Hawaii has the highest rate of extinction in the United States, and one of the highest rates in the world.  There were once 12,198 native species in Hawaii.  However, it is estimated that before human contact, only one new invasive species was introduced to Hawaii every seventy thousand years.  Today, that estimate has gone up to twenty new species every year, and this has had a negative impact for many native species.

     According to the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources, the coqui frog is an invasive species that has been encountered on Maui.  In the September 2007 Coqui Frog Populations on Maui map, there were a total of thirteen population sites.  Five of these sites have been eradicated and eight active sites still remain.

     The purpose of this Act is to enact one of the recommendations from thirty-fifth secondary student conference that was held on Oahu between November 28 and 30, 2007.  The conference recommended appropriating funds to support the invasive species council and the department of agriculture in their efforts to eradicate invasive species, to prevent invasive species from spreading, and to protect Hawaii's native species.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the invasive species council to eradicate invasive species and prevent them from spreading, and protect Hawaii's native species.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the department of agriculture to eradicate invasive species and prevent them from spreading, and protect Hawaii's native species.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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