STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1465

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 606

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 606, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COUNTY ACCESS TO PRIVATE PROPERTY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the counties, through their employees or authorized agents, to enter private property to control or eradicate invasive species and pests.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of the Mayor, County of Hawaii; Hawaii Association of REALTORS; Hawaii Farm Bureau; and nine individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from The Humane Society of the United States.

 

     Your Committee finds that invasive species and pests are a persistent and real threat to the State.  Invasive species and pests can swiftly and permanently alter the ecosystem of the State if not effectively eradicated.  To ensure the rapid and complete removal of such species and pests, it is essential to allow the counties through their employees or authorized agents to have authority to enter onto private property with sufficient notice, similarly to existing law authorizing members of the Department of Agriculture and its agents, to control or eradicate invasive species and pests when it is determined to be necessary.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying which agents are authorized to enter private property to control or eradicate invasive species for the purpose of consistency; and

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of January 7, 2059, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 606, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 606, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

 

 

 

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair