STAND. COM. REP. NO.  240-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2501

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2501 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to prevent and control the spread of pests and illegal organisms by statutorily establishing, and providing funds for, the Department of Agriculture's Biosecurity Program.

 

     The Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Transportation, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and the Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, supported this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that DOA may dispose of, instead of destroy, covered pests and other illegal organisms under the Biosecurity Program; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2501, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2501, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair