STAND. COM. REP. NO.  143-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1932

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1932 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate general funds and special funds for the Department of Agriculture's biosecurity program.

 

     The Department of Agriculture, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, the Nature Conservancy, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, the Maui Invasive Species Committee, and one individual testified in support of this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that the unchecked spread of invasive species is one of the greatest threats to Hawaii's economy, natural environment, and the health and lifestyle of Hawaii's people.  Invasive pests can cause millions of dollars in crop losses, the extinction of native species, the destruction of native forests, the spread of disease, and the quarantine of exported agricultural crops.  Your Committee further finds that the Department of Agriculture's biosecurity program can help to eradicate invasive species by adopting appropriate measures to detect and quarantine pests in the State.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting the appropriation from the pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund for the Department of Agriculture's biosecurity program.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1932, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1932, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair