STAND. COM. REP. NO. 840

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 639

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 639, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the sale of plants designated as noxious weeds in Hawaii.

 

     The measure also requires the Department of Agriculture to annually review and update its list of noxious weeds and appropriates funds therefor.

 

     Your Committee received comments supporting the measure from the Nature Conservancy.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted comments supporting the intent of the measure and a concerned citizen submitted comments on the measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that the introduction of new invasive plants into Hawaii adds to the growing number of invasive species that crowd out native plants and over propagate in certain areas of the State.  Your Committee also finds that the State's noxious weed list has not been updated in fifteen years, which has allowed many new plant species with the potential for causing an infestation to enter Hawaii's borders.  These plants have been sold by plant wholesalers and retail outlets and has potentially added to the number of invasive plants in the State.

 

     This measure will ensure the timely monitoring and eradication of alien plants in the State to reduce or eliminate the harm caused by invasive plants.

 

     Your Committee has amended the measure by making technical amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

 

     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. 639, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 639, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair