STAND. COM. REP. NO.  636

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1472

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1472 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RAPID OHIA DEATH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to help respond to the potential catastrophic loss of Hawaii's native ohia forests by appropriating $160,000 for fiscal year 2017-2018 and $460,000 for fiscal year 2018-2019 for rapid ohia death research to be conducted by the Daniel K. Inouye United States Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center.

 

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, County of Hawaii, University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Green Growth, The Nature Conservancy – Hawaii Program, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, a member of the Hawaii County Council, Rapid Ohia Death Statewide Coordinator, and four concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the intent of the measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Making an additional appropriation for fiscal biennium 2017-2019 for early detection of rapid ohia death through remote-sensing flights; aerial and ground survey work; statewide survey crews; Digital Mobile Sketch Mapping from helicopters; and other personnel, supplies, equipment, and resources as needed -- all to be conducted by the United States Forest Service in Hilo;

 

     (2)  Making an additional appropriation for fiscal biennium 2017-2019 for rapid ohia death research to be conducted by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, including the employment of an entomology post-doctoral fellow; technical laboratory support; and field and laboratory supplies, equipment, and other necessary materials or items;

 

     (3)  Making all appropriation amounts an unspecified sum;

 

     (4)  Changing its effective date to July 31, 2150, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Should your Committee on Finance choose to deliberate further on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider appropriating:

 

     (1)  $1,000,000 for each year of fiscal biennium 2017-2019 for early detection of rapid ohia death through remote-sensing flights; aerial and ground survey work; statewide survey crews; Digital Mobile Sketch Mapping from helicopters; and other personnel, supplies, equipment, and resources as needed; and

 

     (2)  $270,000 for each year of fiscal biennium 2017-2019 for rapid ohia death research to be conducted by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, including the employment of an entomology post-doctoral fellow; technical laboratory support; and field and laboratory supplies, equipment, and other necessary materials or items.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1472, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1472, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair