CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 83-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2008

RE:    H.B. No. 2977

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 2977, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this bill is to address coqui frog infestation in Hawaii by specifying that the coqui frog eradication plan shall give priority to eradicating coqui frogs.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the provision specifying that the coqui frog eradication plan shall give priority to eradicating coqui frogs; and

     (2)  Requiring appropriate state agencies to collaborate with the counties and communities to develop and implement a systematic approach to reduce and control coqui frog infestations on public lands that are near or adjacent to communities, and to provide annual reports on the progress made in achieving this objective.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2977, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2977, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair	____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Co-Chair
____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Co-Chair	____________________________ FAYE HANOHANO, Co-Chair