STAND. COM. REP. NO.  124-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1770

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

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. 1770 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to create a rapid response mechanism through which newly detected invasive species may be quickly mitigated or eradicated.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Maui County Council, one member of the Maui County Council, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, State Procurement Office, and Maui County Farm Bureau.

 

     Your Committee finds that state agencies currently lack the resources and mechanisms to quickly mitigate or eliminate invasive species.  Creating a rapid response mechanism will allow the State to prevent newly detected invasive species from becoming firmly established and thus save taxpayers money in the long term.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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. 1770, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1770, 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