Report Title:

Invasive Species; Coqui Frogs; Appropriations

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the counties to eradicate and control coqui frog.  (SD1)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1924

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to the eradication and control of the coqui frog.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the island of Hawaii has become infested by the Caribbean tree frog (eleutherodactylus coqui), more commonly known as the coqui frogs, since their accidental introduction on the island of Hawaii in the early 1990s.  In early 1992, there were only sporadic sightings of coqui frogs.  In 1998, there were eight reported occurrences.  In 2001, over eighty-five occurrences were documented, and another sixty-five occurrences were undocumented.  Now there are over one hundred fifty firmly established specific coqui frog sites on the island of Hawaii alone.

     In their native habitat in Puerto Rico, coqui frog populations can reach densities greater than eight thousand per acre and consume an estimated 47,500 preys per night.  Because Hawaii is similar in climate to Puerto Rico, it is estimated that coqui frog populations on the island of Hawaii could reach ten times that reported in the native forests of Puerto Rico because Hawaii does not have any of the coqui frog's natural predators.  The infestation of coqui frogs is in such concentrations that the sounds they emit have been measured at sustained levels exceeding the department of health's maximum permissible sound level of seventy decibels, and therefore have become a threat to human health and welfare and unreasonably interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property.

     The coqui frog was declared an agricultural pest on September 27, 2001, making shipments of plants infested with coqui frogs subject to quarantine pursuant to chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and sections 4-72-3 and 4-72-4, Hawaii Administrative Rules.  The coqui frog also has the potential to adversely affect sales of Hawaii's floriculture industry which totaled $61,187,000 in 2002.

     In response to this threat on the island of Hawaii, the mayor of Hawaii county issued a Declaration of Emergency in February, 2004.  The county of Hawaii, department of agriculture, University of Hawaii at Hilo, University of Hawaii at Manoa, United States Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services Division, and the National Wildlife Research Center have formed the coqui frog working group and have produced the coqui frog working group incident action plan to combat this invasive specie.  This plan focuses on three primary areas:  eradication and control, research, and community education and support.

     The legislature finds that:

     (1)  A greater level of state aid is needed to deal with a problem that has not been effectively dealt with for over a decade;

     (2)  The coqui frog invasion is not limited to the island of Hawaii and should be addressed in all counties; and

     (3)  With proper legislative funding, increased control, research, and community education, the coqui frog eradication efforts will bring a reduction in the economic, environmental, and public health threats posed by the coqui frog to the State of Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 as a grant-in-aid to the county of Hawaii for the support and implementation of the coqui frog working group incident action plan.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the county of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $750,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for a grant-in-aid to eradicate and control the coqui frog in the county of Maui.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the county of Maui for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $300,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for a grant-in-aid to eradicate and control the coqui frog in the county of Kauai.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the county of Kauai for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for a grant-in-aid to eradicate and control the coqui frog in the city and county of Honolulu.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the city and county of Honolulu for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.