STAND. COM. REP. NO.  738

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1568

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1568, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to protect Hawaii's natural environment from the threat of invasive species and assist Hawaii's agricultural industry by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Aloha Tower Development Corporation (ATDC) to provide space, planning and design support, and other infrastructure at the Aloha Tower Complex to the Department of Agriculture (DOA) for biosecurity and inspection facilities to meet the various needs of the agricultural industry;

 

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide space, planning and design support, and other infrastructure at Honolulu International Airport, Kona International Airport at Keahole, Hilo International Airport, Kahului Airport, and Lihue Airport to DOA for biosecurity and inspection facilities to meet the various needs of each island's agricultural industry;

 

     (3)  Requiring DOT to provide space, planning and design support, and other infrastructure at Honolulu Harbor, Hilo Harbor, Kawaihae Harbor, Kahului Harbor, and Nawiliwili Harbor for biosecurity and inspection facilities to meet the various needs of each island's agricultural industry; and

 

     (4)  Appropriating funds for DOA to reimburse ATDC and DOT for the establishment of the biosecurity inspection facilities.

 

     The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, DOA, DOT, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Oahu Invasive Species Committee, and Airlines Committee of Hawaii provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the biosecurity and inspection facilities at the Aloha Tower Complex are intended to meet the various needs of Hawaii's agricultural industry;

 

     (2)  Requiring DOT to provide space and infrastructure for the biosecurity and inspection facilities at Hawaii's airports rather than providing the space, planning and design support, and infrastructure to DOA for these facilities;

 

     (3)  Specifying that the biosecurity and inspection facilities at the airports provide for the inspection, consolidation, deconsolidation, and treatment of imported and exported agriculture and other inspected commodities to meet the various needs of each island rather than simply agricultural commodities to meet the needs of each island's agricultural industry;

 

     (4)  Stipulating that an additional purpose of the biosecurity and inspection facilities at the airports is to facilitate the safe movement of enplaned and deplaned air cargo through the airport;

 

     (5)  Requiring DOT to design, construct, and operate the biosecurity and inspection facilities at the airports and harbors and coordinate with other departments in the planning, design, operation of these facilities to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of their operation; and

 

     (6)  Allowing DOT to charge appropriate rent for the use of these facilities.

 

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments have also been made for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1568, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1568, H.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair