STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1011

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 772

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 772, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to protect Hawaii's fragile environment from invasive species by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to prescribe a schedule of service fees and charges to be collected from persons who import items that may harbor invasive species, such as containers or packing material;

 

     (2)  Establishing the Pest Inspection, Quarantine, and Eradication Fund (Eradication Fund) into which the service fees, charges, and penalties collected, in addition to legislative appropriations, and federal funds, are to be deposited; and

 

     (3)  Requiring funds in the Eradication Fund to be used for the operation of inspection and monitoring programs and related facilities, and for emergency remedial measures when invasive species are detected.


 

     The Department of Transportation, the Council Chair of the Maui County Council, a member of the Maui County Council, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii Forest Industry Association, Sierra Club-Hawaii Chapter, and Hawaii Audubon Society testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, and DOA supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Alexander and Baldwin, Inc., Matson Navigation Company, Inc., and a concerned individual testified in opposition to this bill.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Inserting an appropriation for deposit into the Fund, to establish an expenditure ceiling;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 772, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 772, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair