Report Title:

Alien Invasive Species; State Administrator/Coordinator

 

Description:

Establishes a state invasive species administrator/coordinator and authorizes the departments of agriculture, health, and land and natural resources to enter private property to control alien invasive species. (SD2)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2212

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 2


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO ALIEN INVASIVE SPECIES.

 

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

SECTION 1. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"CHAPTER

INVASIVE SPECIES

§   -1 Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that the silent invasion of Hawaii by alien invasive species is the single greatest threat to Hawaii's economy, natural environment, and the health and lifestyle of Hawaii's people and visitors. Invasive species cause millions of dollars in crop damage, the extinction of native species, the destruction of native ecosystems, and the spread of many diseases.

The purposes of this chapter are to:

(1) Establish an administrator/coordinator position for invasive species to better orchestrate the war against invasive species;

(2) Affirm the objective of the State to rid Hawaii of invasive species; and

(3) Provide other statutory means to facilitate the administration of the State's efforts to control invasive species.

§   -2 Administrator/coordinator. (a) There is established an administrator/coordinator position for invasive species that shall be administratively attached to the research corporation of the University of Hawaii. The administrator/coordinator shall possess at least five years experience in researching, controlling or eradicating, or administering programs related to alien invasive species. The nominating committee under subsection (b) shall have sole discretion in determining the eligibility of persons nominated for the administrator/coordinator position.

(b) The administrator/coordinator shall be appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the senate; provided that the governor shall select an administrator/coordinator from a list submitted by a nominating committee. The nominating committee shall be comprised of three individuals chosen as follows: one person appointed by the governor; one person appointed by the president of the senate; and one person appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. The committee shall solicit applications and send to the governor the names of at least three nominees. The committee shall serve without compensation and serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

(c) The administrator/coordinator shall serve a term of four years, shall be appointed without regard to chapter 76, and compensated at a salary level set by the nominating committee with approval by the governor. The administrator/coordinator may request staff assistance from the research corporation of the University of Hawaii and other appropriate agencies. The administrator/coordinator may also employ, without regard to chapter 76 and at the administrator/coordinator's pleasure, hire and dismiss such persons as the administrator/coordinator finds necessary for the purposes of this chapter and fix their compensation accordingly.

(d) The administrator/coordinator shall:

(1) Maintain a broad overview of the invasive species problem in the State;

(2) Advise, consult, and coordinate invasive species related efforts with and between the departments of agriculture, land and natural resources, health, and transportation, and other agencies;

(3) Identify and prioritize each lead agency's organizational and resource shortfalls with respect to invasive species;

(4) After consulting with appropriate state agencies and the advisory body under section    -3, create and implement a plan that includes the prevention, early detection, rapid response, control, enforcement, and education of the public with respect to invasive species, as well as fashion a mission statement articulating the State's position against invasive species;

(5) Coordinate and promote the State's position with respect to federal issues including:

(A) Coordinating efforts with federal agencies to maximize resources and reduce or eliminate system gaps and leaks; and

(B) Coordinating efforts and issues with the federal Invasive Species Council and its National Invasive Species Management Plan;

(6) Identify and record all invasive species present in the State and designate the department of agriculture,

health, or land and natural resources as the lead agency for each invasive species identified;

(7) Identify all state, federal, and other moneys expended for the purposes of the invasive species problem in the State;

(8) Identify all federal and private funds available to the State to fight invasive species and advise and assist state departments to acquire these funds;

(9) Advise the governor and legislature on budgetary and other issues regarding invasive species;

(10) Provide annual reports to the legislature twenty days prior to every legislative session on budgetary and other related issues;

(11) Include the counties in the fight against invasive species to increase resources and funding and to address county-sponsored activities that involve invasive species;

(12) Review the fines and penalties structure to insure maximum deterrence for invasive species related crimes;

(13) Conduct invasive species research to improve eradication efforts;

(14) Suggest appropriate legislation to improve the State's administration of invasive species programs and policies; and

(15) Any other function necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.

§   -3 Advisory body. The administrator/coordinator may appoint a local advisory body to advise and assist the administrator/coordinator in coordinating activities to fight invasive species. The body shall be comprised of representatives of state and private members. Representatives of federal agencies shall be asked to participate; or the administrator/coordinator may seek the advice and assistance of an established organization whose purpose is to coordinate invasive species activities. The administrator/coordinator shall meet with the body or organization at least quarterly. If the administrator/coordinator does not appoint or select an advisory body or organization, then the administrator/coordinator shall conduct quarterly public hearings to gain public input on current issues of concern. The administrator/coordinator shall also meet at least semi-annually with the chairpersons of the board of agriculture and board of land and natural resources and the directors of health and transportation to gain input and to keep them abreast of current issues.

§   -4 Lead agency; duties. A state department that is designated a lead agency under section    -2(d)(6) with respect to a particular species, shall have sole administrative responsibility and accountability for that designated invasive species. The lead agency shall:

(1) Coordinate all efforts between other departments and federal and private agencies to control or eradicate the designated invasive species;

(2) Prepare a biennial budget proposal for the legislature and invasive species administrator/coordinator forty days before the convening of the regular session of the legislature in each odd-numbered year, showing the budget requirements of each of the lead agency's assigned invasive species that includes the budget requirements of all departments that it leads for that species as well as other federal and private funding for that invasive species;

(3) Prepare and distribute an annual progress report forty days prior to the convening of each regular session of the legislature to the governor, legislature, and the invasive specie administrator/coordinator that includes the status of each assigned invasive species with respect to its control or eradication; and

(4) Any other function of a lead agency necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.

§   -5 Authority to enter premises; departments of agriculture, health, and land and natural resources. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, and in addition to any other authority provided by law that is not inconsistent with the purposes of this chapter, the departments of agriculture, health, and land and natural resources and each department's agents, pursuant to this chapter, are authorized to examine, control, and eradicate all instances of invasive species identified as such by the invasive species administrator/coordinator under section    -(2)(d)(6) on any public or private premises or in any aircraft or vessel landed or docked in waters of the State.

§   -6 Private property. (a) Whenever any invasive specie identified by the invasive species administrator/coordinator under section    -(2)(d)(6) is found on private property, the departments of agriculture, health, or land and natural resources, subject to the lead agency's coordination, may enter such premises to control or eradicate the invasive species after reasonable notice is given to the owner of the property and if permission to enter the premises is denied, pursuant to the court order in subsection (d).

(b) If applicable, a duplicate of the notice so given shall be left with one or more of the tenants or occupants of the premises. If the premises are unoccupied, notice shall be mailed to the last known place of residence of the owner if residing in the State. If the owner resides out of the State or cannot be reached with notice speedily, notice left at the house or posted on the premises shall be sufficient.

(c) The appropriate department may instead cause notice to be given, and order the owner to control or eradicate the invasive species at the owner's expense within such reasonable time as the department may deem proper, pursuant to the notice requirements of this section.

(d) If the owner thus notified fails to comply with the order of the appropriate department, or its agent, within the time specified by the department, or if entry is denied after notice is given pursuant to subsection (a) and, if applicable, subsection (b), the department or its agent may apply to the district court of the circuit in which the property is situated for a warrant, directed to any police officer of the circuit, commanding the police officer to take sufficient aid and to assist the department member or its agent in gaining entry onto the premises, between the hours of sunrise and sunset, and executing measures to control or eradicate the invasive species.

(e) A department may recover by appropriate proceedings the expenses incurred by its order from any owner, who, after proper notice has failed to comply with the department's order.

(f) In no case shall the department or any officer or agent thereof be liable for costs in any action or proceeding that may be commenced in pursuance of this chapter.

§   -7 State or county property. (a) Whenever any invasive species identified by the invasive species administrator/coordinator under section    -(2)(d)(6) is found on state or county property or on a public highway, street, lane, alley, or other public place controlled by the State or county, notice shall be given by the departments of agriculture, health, or land and natural resources, or its agent, as the case may be, to the person officially in charge thereof, and the person shall be reasonably notified and ordered by the department to control or eradicate the invasive species.

(b) In case of a failure to comply with the order, the mode of procedure shall be the same as provided in case of private persons in section    -6.

§   -8 Rulemaking. The administrator/coordinator may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate this chapter."

SECTION 2. Act 4, Third Special Session, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, is amended by amending sections 2 and 3 to read as follows:

"SECTION 2. There is established the emergency environmental workforce to be attached to The Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes[.] and headed by the administrator/coordinator for invasive species. The emergency environmental workforce shall:

(1) Employ approximately four hundred to four hundred fifty individuals who were terminated from their jobs after the September 11 tragedy as a result of the local economic downturn. The individuals shall be employed as three-month contract employees;

(2) Deploy contract employees to all island mayors certifying a need for environmental clearance and eradication services to supplement current services being provided for the isolation of dengue fever, the eradication of the miconia plant, fireweed, and other invasive plants, and the reduction of coqui frog and fire ant populations; and

(3) Coordinate its efforts with the efforts of the invasive species committee on each island.

SECTION 3. The administrator/coordinator for invasive species shall utilize the resources of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii and shall:

(1) Together with the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, develop a planning, administration, implementation, and evaluation strategy, including a program duration plan and a budget for contract and administrative expenses for the sum appropriated;

(2) Consult with private employers [with workforces, which have, or which may be, affected by layoffs from the economic downturn as a result of the September 11 tragedy] to develop a recruitment and public information plan;

(3) Develop a strategy for the interviewing and selection of program participants;

(4) Work with island mayors requesting cleaning and eradication services to administer physical examinations, as may be necessary, to qualifying applicants prior to final contract offers;

(5) Request that the attorneys employed or retained by the University of Hawaii prepare the necessary employment contracts to meet the objectives of the program on an expedited basis;

(6) Submit review and assessment reports to the governor, the senate president, and the house speaker every sixty days for the duration of the program; and

(7) Undertake all other necessary activities for program development and implementation."

SECTION 4. The administrator/coordinator for invasive species established by section 1, also shall administer and head the emergency environmental workforce established by Act 4, Session Laws of Hawaii, Third Special Session of 2001.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, to effectuate the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. The sum appropriated in this part shall be expended by the research office of the University of Hawaii for the exclusive purposes of this part.

SECTION 7. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.