Report Title:

Coqui Frog Eradication

Description:

Appropriates funds for statewide eradication efforts relating to the coqui frog. (SD2)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1301

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 2


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO invasive species.

 

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

SECTION 1. In 2003, the legislature established the Hawaii invasive species council and found "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." The council provides the institutional framework for leadership and coordination of a statewide invasive species prevention and control program among the federal, state, and county levels of government, the University of Hawaii, and nongovernmental organizations to maximize limited resources to address this challenge.

Through past legislative support, the Hawaii invasive species council played a key role in attempting to contain environmental scourges, including the coqui frog. It is the intent of the legislature to continue this support to educate Hawaii's public on the problems caused by the coqui frog and assist in its eradication statewide.

The legislature also finds that it is necessary to accelerate response and control efforts of priority invasive species, specifically the coqui frogs. Therefore, in addition to the amounts requested by the Hawaii invasive species council for the biennial period, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate additional funds to the counties specifically for response and control efforts for programs and initiatives that are found to be most effective in the control or eradication of priority invasive species including the coqui frog; provided that the moneys shall be distributed to the county invasive species committee on each island.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $4, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for response and control efforts for programs and initiatives that are found to be most effective in the control or eradication of priority invasive species including the coqui frog, to each county as follows:

City and county of Honolulu $1

County of Kauai $1

County of Maui $1

County of Hawaii $1

Total $4

The sums appropriated to each county shall be expended by that county for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.