STAND. COM. REP. NO.663

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 857

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 857, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish an administrator position for invasive species to coordinate the fight against alien invasive species.

Your Committee finds that the invasion of alien species in Hawaii has caused widespread havoc and the expenditure of millions of dollars in public and private funds. From the recent dengue fever outbreak and the Coqui frog infestation, to the Miconia forest weed invasion and Salvinia devastation of Lake Wilson, these alien invaders have but one objective -- to destroy Hawaii's environment.

A major problem in the fight against invasive species is the lack of coordination between government agencies assigned to rid the State of these invading pests. The Coqui frog, the Miconia plant, and the Salvinia water plant are all examples of invasive species that were left unattended, primarily due to the lack of government coordination and accountability.

This bill provides that coordination and accountability by establishing an invasive species coordinator whose responsibility is to designate certain state departments to act as lead agencies in the fight against invasive species. Only with this lead agency designation can the public hold the responsible state agencies accountable and expect a quicker and more concerted response to alien invasive species.

After due consideration, your Committee has amended the bill by deleting provisions relating to the invasive species coordinator and replaced it with an invasive species council. Your Committee finds that the council will be better able to jointly coordinate invasive species activities and provide experienced and knowledgeable strategies to fight alien invasive 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. 857, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 857, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair