STAND. COM. REP. NO.  481-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1654

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1654, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture for feral pig control, including grants for fencing and corral traps and a program to reduce feral pig populations.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Maui County Farm Bureau; SR Hawaii; Ulupalakua Ranch; Hawaii Hybrids, LLC; KAC Land, Inc.; McCall Flower Farm, Inc.; Triple K Orchids; Kauai Nursery & Landscaping Inc.; Lydgate Farms; EM Hawaii, LLC; Kamiya Papaya; and seventeen individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's feral pig population can cause major damage to property, agricultural crops, livestock, native species, ecosystems, and Hawaii's cultural and historic resources.  Your Committee also finds that feral pigs threaten the health of people, wildlife, pets, and other domestic animals.  Your Committee believes that as the feral pig population increases, so will the damages and costs.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion.

 

     Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this matter, to consider an appropriation amount of $1,000,000 and the concerns of the Department of Agriculture.  The Department believes that the most effective use of the fencing and trapping control measures referenced in this measure is when they are integrated into a focused control program and that the design of such a program is best suited for other agencies, such as the Department of Land and Natural Resources and United States Department of Agriculture.

 

     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. 1654, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1654, H.D. 2, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair