STAND. COM. REP. NO. 317

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 180
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to
which was referred H.B. No. 180 entitled: 

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to create one permanent alien
species coordinator position within the Department of Land and
Natural Resources (DLNR).  The alien species coordinator will aid
in preventing alien species from entering and becoming
established in the state.

   TRI-ISLE RC & D, DLNR, Life of the Land, The Nature
Conservancy of Hawaii, and one individual testified in support of
this measure.

     Alien species have been identified as the greatest threat to
conservation of natural resources and native plants and animals
in Hawaii.  They also comprise a significant threat to the
state's economy, particularly the agriculture sector.  DLNR
currently has just one temporary alien species coordinator to
carry out DLNR's mandate to prevent the migration of alien
species. 
  
     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached
to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 180 and recommends that it pass Second
Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 317
                                 Page 2

 

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Energy and
                                   Environmental Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair