STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1344

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1006

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1006, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Hawaii Ant Lab of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaii to support mitigation of the little fire ant.

 

     More specifically, this measure appropriates funds for:

 

(1)  Two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) operator positions and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) supervisor position;

 

(2)  A vehicle and operating costs for public outreach and treatment;

 

(3)  Ant baits;

 

(4)  Field equipment and personal protective equipment; and

 

(5)  Computers and printers.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture; Hawaii Invasive Species Council; Office of the Mayor, County of Hawaii; Little Fire Ant Hui; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Conservation Council for Hawaii; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that the little fire ant threatens native biodiversity, alters tropical ecosystems, impairs human health, impedes tourism, diminishes agricultural productivity, damages horticulture sales, and accordingly ranks as among the world's worst invasive species.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Adding an appropriation of an unspecified amount for fiscal year 2018-2019; and

 

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

 

     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 H.B. No. 1006, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1006, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair