STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2339

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2738

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2738 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LEGACY LAND CONSERVATION COMMISSION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Chairperson of the Natural Area Reserves System Commission to designate a representative from the Natural Area Reserves System Commission to serve on the Legacy Land Conservation Commission and authorize the members of the Legacy Land Conservation Commission to elect the chairperson. 

 

     Prior to holding a public hearing on this measure, a proposed S.D. 1 was prepared and made available for public review.  The proposed S.D. 1 includes the purpose of the measure, and adds amendments to:

 

     (1)  Expand the responsibilities of the Legacy Land Conservation Commission to include the protection of lands and the environment from harmful invasive species infestations and the costs related to infestation eradication; and

 

     (2)  Permit the Land Conservation Fund to pay grants to state and county agencies for harmful invasive species prevention and eradication efforts.

 

     Testimony in support of the measure, excluding the amendments proposed in the S.D. 1, was submitted by one state agency, one organization, and two individuals.  Those same testifiers opposed the amendments in the proposed S.D. 1, however, the organization and two individuals recognize the need for a dedicated fund for invasive species control.  Testimony in support of the proposed S.D. 1 was submitted by one organization, and one organization submitted testimony in opposition.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Chairperson of the Natural Area Reserves System Commission has a disproportionate amount of responsibility due to the statutory requirement that the Chairperson also serve as the Chairperson of the Legacy Land Conservation Commission, especially considering the position is a volunteer, unpaid position.  This measure would permit the Chairperson to distribute the workload more evenly and fairly between members of the Legacy Land Conservation Commission and the Natural Area Reserves System Commission.

 

     Additionally, your Committee finds that the State is at a critical juncture for invasive species control.  Creative solutions are needed to fund the State's dire need for agricultural inspectors.  The Land Conservation Fund presently has approximately $4.3 million, and your Committee hopes that $1 million of that total will be used for invasive species control.  Although your Committee recognizes the concerns raised, more favorable solutions have not been offered.  This is one method of providing the needed funding for the prevention and eradication of harmful invasive species.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by incorporating the amendments set forth in the proposed S.D. 1.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2738, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2738, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair