STAND. COM. REP. NO. 284

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 531
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Transportation and Intergovernmental
Affairs and Labor and Environment, to which was referred S.B.
No. 531 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ROADSIDE HERBICIDE USE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require state and county
agencies to develop and implement an integrated vegetation
management strategy to minimize the use of herbicides.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the
Advocate Offices of David L. Bourgoin and one individual.  The
Department of Transportation, Rescue Hawaii, and Sierra Club,
Hawaii Chapter, submitted testimony in support of the intent of
this measure with amendments.  The University of Hawaii at Manoa
submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committees find that the Department of Transportation
is currently implementing strategies to reduce herbicide use.
Your Committees believe that all state and county governmental
agencies responsible for roadside maintenance should be required
to adopt an integrated vegetation management program that
includes the use of nonchemical, nonmechanical, and nonmanual
methods of roadside vegetation management.  However, your
Committees also believe that further study is needed to ensure
roadside vegetation management programs are developed with the
overall goal of implementing strategies to reduce herbicide use
while minimizing costs.

 
a                                                     SB531 SD1
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 284
                                   Page 2



     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Replacing the provisions requiring a twenty-five
          percent reduction of herbicide use by January 1, 2000,
          and fifty percent by January 1, 2002, with language
          stating the broader goal of reducing herbicide use;

     (2)  Replacing the definition of "nonchemical methods" with
          the definition of the term in S.B. No. 379 which is
          clearer and broader in scope;

     (3)  Establishing a Roadside Vegetation Committee that will,
          among other things, develop, initiate demonstration
          programs of, and make advisory opinions on, roadside
          vegetation management strategies;

     (4)  Authorizing the Director of Transportation to appoint
          members to the Roadside Vegetation Committee that will
          include representatives from the Department of
          Transportation, the respective counties, the field of
          biodiversity, the landscape architect profession, and
          the environmental community;

     (5)  Requiring the Roadside Vegetation Committee to meet at
          least twice a year and requiring the committee to
          report on the progress of herbicide use reduction to
          the legislature prior to each regular session;

     (6)  Requiring the Department of Transportation to report
          its progress and plans on implementing an integrated
          vegetation management program; and

     (7)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and drafting style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Transportation and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Labor and Environment that are attached to this report, your
Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B.
No. 531, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 531, S.D. 1, and
be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.


 
a                                                     SB531 SD1
 
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 284
                                   Page 3


                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Transportation
                                   and Intergovernmental Affairs
                                   and Labor and Environment,



____________________________       ______________________________
BOB NAKATA, Chair                  CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

 
a                                                     SB531 SD1