STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1132

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.R. No. 43

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs and Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 43 entitled:

 

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO COLLABORATE AND SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO PREVENT INVASIVE SPECIES FROM ENTERING THE STATE OF HAWAII,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Homeland Security to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture to prevent invasive species from entering the State of Hawaii.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by two state agencies and two organizations.  Two public citizens supported the intent of this measure.  Written testimony presented to your Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committees find that the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Homeland Security are responsible for inspecting international passenger and cargo arrivals.  However, the federal quarantine laws are primarily designed to protect mainland agriculture and do not take into account the potential risks to Hawaii's crops or native habitat.  It is essential that the federal inspection agencies collaborate and share information with Department of Agriculture officials to ensure the highest possible level of protection and the smooth movement of cargo into and around the State.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and style. 

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs and Public Safety and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 43, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 43, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs and Public Safety and Military Affairs,

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair