STAND. COM. REP. NO.  275

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1050

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1050 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERISLAND MOVEMENT OF INVASIVE SPECIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to address the interisland spread of invasive species that harms agriculture, native biota, public health, and the economic well-being of the State by:

 

(1)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC) through existing contracts and appropriated funds for invasive species activities to:

 

(A)  Undertake specified invasive species management related to agricultural lands and agricultural and non-agricultural commodities, including developing an interisland and export tracking database; providing risk level assessments for the interisland transport of non-agricultural commodities; increasing priority inspections for the interisland transport of agricultural commodities; developing and coordinating interisland quarantine activities; implementing statewide pest management programs for potted plant, cut-flower, and cut-foliage production; and providing chemicals and equipment to assist growers in reducing infestation in agricultural areas, statewide; and

 

(B)  Undertake specified invasive species management on non-agricultural lands, including reducing infestation levels near or adjacent to Hilo Harbor, Hilo International Airport, and agricultural production areas in the County of Hawaii; and creating buffer areas between conservation lands and agricultural production areas in the County of Hawaii to prevent re-infestation of invasive species;

 

(2)  Requiring DOA and HISC to each submit annual reports to the Legislature beginning with the 2016 Regular Session; and

 

(3)  Appropriating moneys to fund the foregoing tasks.

 

     The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, and three concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture, Oahu Invasive Species Committee, and Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Big Island Invasive Species Committee provided comments.

 

     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. 1050 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair