STAND. COM. REP. NO.359-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 1940

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1940 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE CONTROL OF FIREWEED,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to stop the spread of fireweed by appropriating funds to the Department of Agriculture to implement short-term control methods.

The Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, and Ulupalakua Ranch, Inc., testified in support of this measure. The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure.

Fireweed is an invasive, poisonous weed that could seriously damage Hawaii's livestock industry as well as its native ecosystem and plants. Your Committee supports state funding, to be matched with private funds, to assist in the on-going efforts to control or eradicate fireweed and protect Hawaii's fragile environment.

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. 1940 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

____________________________

FELIPE P. ABINSAY, Chair