STAND. COM. REP. 2636

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2134

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2134 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to take affirmative steps to protect Hawaii's environment against invasive species.

Specifically, this measure establishes the Emergency Environmental Workforce (Workforce) to provide labor to assist the counties in combating invasive species and appropriates funds to support the activities of the Workforce.

Your Committee finds that agencies, organizations, and landowners do not have sufficient resources to take on all of the invasive species threats to native ecosystems. The establishment of a permanent Emergency Workforce Program will help to address those threats in terms of manpower and level of emergency response. Invasive species may impact both the State's lands and waters. They can also detrimentally affect the eco-tourism industry by diminishing the State's native species.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2134 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair