STAND. COM. REP. NO. 234

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 696

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 696 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COQUI FROGS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for grants-in-aid to the counties for the eradication of coqui frogs.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Mayor of the County of Hawaii and three organizations.  One organization supported the intent of the measure.  Two state agencies and one organization submitted comments.  Written testimony presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that coqui frogs injure wildlife and are an invasive pest.  Coqui frogs were introduced into Hawaii from Puerto Rico in 1988, and have become a major noise nuisance and pose a serious threat to Hawaii's island ecosystem.  Coqui frogs have a voracious appetite that puts Hawaii's unique insects and spiders at risk.  The coqui frogs compete with endemic birds and other native fauna that rely on insects for food.  Your Committee believes that if eradication efforts are not financially supported in all counties, the coqui frogs will continue to expand and endanger endemic bird species and the State ecosystem.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the coqui frogs have a limited distribution on Kauai, Maui, and Oahu.  Significant progress at controlling the coqui frog populations has been made, and critical research continues on the island of Hawaii where the coqui frog population is well established and distributed.  These accomplishments across the State are at risk of failing if continued funding is not available.  Your Committee notes that without consistent control efforts, new coqui frog populations will become established and sites where they were almost eradicated will balloon to previous levels. 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 696 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

 

 

 

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair