STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1495

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 871

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 871, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve Hawaii's biosecurity.

     Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Formally establishes, in statute, a biosecurity program under the Department of Agriculture generally, rather than under the Plant Quarantine Branch of the Department;

     (2)  Reaffirms the Legislature's finding that the implementation of the biosecurity program is vital to the State;

     (3)  Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to establish or participate in private-public partnerships to enhance the biosecurity program and quarantine inspection process; and

     (4)  Appropriates moneys for fiscal year 2016-2017 for certain projects under the biosecurity program.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.  Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     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.  Your Committee further finds that the Department of Agriculture's biosecurity program is vital to the public's health and welfare and that the Department must fully execute its comprehensive strategy to control and prevent increasing invasive species threats from entering and spreading throughout the State.  Your Committee believes that, by formally establishing a biosecurity program, this measure will help the Department of Agriculture mitigate and manage invasive species in the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by amending the appropriation section to appropriate moneys for fiscal biennium 2015-2017, rather than for just fiscal year 2016-2017, for the Department of Agriculture's biosecurity program.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 871, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 871, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair