STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1236

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 772

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 772, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to improve efforts to deal with and prevent damage by invasive species.

     Specifically, this measure establishes a service fee for the inspection of pests in imports to the State; establishes the Pest Inspection, Quarantine, and Eradication Fund; and makes an appropriation out of the fund to pay for inspection program costs.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Mayor of Maui County; The Council Chair of the County of Maui; beach Road Invasive Coqui Squad; Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association; The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i; and the Sierra Club, Hawai‘i Chapter.  Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Department of Transportation. 

     Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Budget and Finance; The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., and its subsidiary, Matson Navigation Company, Inc.; and Horizon Lines, LLC.  Three individuals submitted comments.

     Your Committees note with concern that the introduction and establishment of non-native species is one of the greatest threats to Hawaii's environment and is directly related to issues including the economy, public safety, and, sustainability.  Your Committees find, therefore, that this is an important measure needing further consideration.

     This measure was amended to reflect the amendments made to the Senate companion bill, Senate Bill No. 1066, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.  These amendments are:

     (1)  Changing "a person" in section 1, to "an importer of commercial shipments", for consistency with other sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     (2)  Adding additional funding sources for the Pest Inspection, Quarantine, and Eradication Fund in consideration of the fact that federal funds are not permanent, guaranteed, or sufficient.

     Your Committee retained the delayed effective date to encourage further discussion of this measure.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 772, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 772, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation and International Affairs,

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair