STAND. COM. REP. NO.916-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.B. No. 2971

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2971, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of the bill is to help preserve and protect the natural environment of Hawaii by:

(1) Affirming the objective of the State to rid Hawaii of alien invasive species;

(2) Establishing an administrator/coordinator position for invasive species to better manage the war against invasive species in Hawaii; and

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

The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii and a member of the Maui County Council testified in support of the bill. The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Audubon Society, Coordinating Group of Alien Pest Species, Matson Navigation Company, and Animal Rights Hawaii supported the intent of the measure. Abandoned and Feral Cat Friends opposed the bill.

Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by deleting its substance and inserting the substance of H.B. No. 2212, H.D. 1, which establishes the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (Council) to coordinate state efforts to control and eradicate invasive alien species. Specifically, the bill provides that the Council shall:

(1) Be composed of the president of the University of Hawaii and the heads of the departments of:

(A) Agriculture;

(B) Land and Natural Resources;

(C) Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

(D) Health;

(E) Transportation; and

(F) Commerce and Consumer Affairs;

(2) Invite the participation of representatives of federal agencies and members of the private sector or consult them for advice and assistance in fighting invasive species;

(3) Coordinate the activities of federal, state, and local governments in eradicating invasive species;

(4) Promote the State's position with respect to federal issues concerning the entry of alien species into Hawaii;

(5) Identify and record all invasive species present in Hawaii;

(6) Identify all moneys expended for the purpose of combating the problem of invasive species; and

(7) Identify all sources of funding available to the State for this purpose.

Your Committees have further amended this bill by attaching the Council to the Office of the Governor for administrative purposes.

 

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2971, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2971, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

____________________________

ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair

____________________________

HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair