STAND. COM. REP. NO. 827

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 696

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 696 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COQUI FROGS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate grants-in-aid to the counties to eradicate coqui frogs statewide.

 

     Your Committee received two written comments on this measure.  The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that the coqui frog is an injurious and invasive species.  The loud shrill that is emitted by the frogs has wreaked havoc in many communities across the State.  The control and eradication of coqui frogs is an ongoing effort that requires continued support to prevent coqui populations from reestablishing or spreading to new areas in the State.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Deleting the provisions that appropriated general fund revenues for grants-in-aid to eradicate coqui frogs;

 

(2)  Authorizing each of the counties to use a portion of its share of the transient accommodations tax to eradicate coqui frogs;

 

(3)  Requiring the counties that elect to use a portion of their share of the transient accommodations tax to do so by ordinance adopted before December 31, 2010; and

 

(4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2070, to encourage further discussion on this matter.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 696, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 696, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair