Report Title:

Appropriation; Invasive Species; Coqui Frog

Description:

Makes an appropriation to eradicate and control the coqui frog. (HB2763 HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2763

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

Making an appropriation to eradicate and control the coqui frog.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii has become infested by the Caribbean tree frog (eleutherodactylus coqui), more commonly known as the coqui frog, since their accidental introduction into the island of Hawaii in the early 1990s. In early 1992, there were only sporadic sightings of coqui frogs. In 1998, there were eight reported occurrences. In 2001, there were over eighty-five documented occurrences, with another sixty-five occurrences that were undocumented. Now, there are over one hundred fifty firmly established specific sites on the island of Hawaii alone.

In their native habitat in Puerto Rico, coqui frog populations can reach densities greater than eight thousand per acre and consume an estimated forty-seven thousand five hundred insects per night, per acre. Because Hawaii is similar in climate to Puerto Rico but without any of the coqui frogs' natural predators, it is estimated that coqui frog populations on the island of Hawaii alone could reach ten times that reported in the native forests of Puerto Rico. The infestation of coqui frogs is so intense that the sounds they emit have been measured at sustained levels exceeding the department of health's maximum permissible sound level of seventy decibels, and therefore have become a threat to human health and welfare and unreasonably interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property.

The coqui frog was declared an agricultural pest on September 27, 2001, making shipments of plants infested with coqui frogs subject to quarantine pursuant to chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and sections 4-72-3 and 4-72-4, Hawaii Administrative Rules. The coqui frog has the potential to negatively impact sales of Hawaii's floriculture industry, which totaled $61,187,000 in 2002. The majority of the industry is located in East Hawaii where the coqui frog infestation is greatest.

In 2003, the legislature recognized the invasion of alien species as the single greatest threat to Hawaii's economy, natural environment, and the health and lifestyle of Hawaii's people and visitors. This problem has grown exponentially over the past decade due to lack of dedicated funding, personnel, and political support.

In response to this threat, the mayor of the county of Hawaii issued a Declaration of Emergency in February, 2004. The county of Hawaii, department of agriculture, University of Hawaii at Hilo, University of Hawaii at Manoa, United States Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services Division and the National Wildlife Research Center have formed the coqui frog working group and have produced the coqui frog working group incident action plan to combat this invasive specie. This plan focuses on three primary areas: eradication and control; research; and community education and support. While the county of Hawaii has contributed $1,000,000, the State of Hawaii has contributed $100,000, and the federal government has contributed $200,000 to this eradication effort. Greater levels of aid are needed to deal with a problem that has not been effectively dealt with for over a decade. Assistance is needed on other islands of the state, which, like the island of Hawaii, have also experienced explosive growth in coqui frog populations. With legislative funding, increased control, research, and community education, this Act will lead to a reduction in the economic, environmental, and public health threats posed by the coqui frog.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to each county of the State for coqui frog control and eradication.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 to fund coqui frog control and eradication programs in each county of Hawaii as follows:

(1) $ for the county of Hawaii;

(2) $ for the county of Maui;

(3) $ for the city and county of Honolulu; and

(4) $ for the county of Kauai.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by each county of the state specified in this section for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.