STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1033-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.C.R. No. 42

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 42 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO DOCUMENT AND COLLECT DATA IDENTIFYING ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND REGULATORY CONSEQUENCES OF CROP DEGRADATION CAUSED BY INVASIVE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to gather information to develop strategies in addressing agricultural crop loss in the State by requesting the Department of Agriculture to convene a task force, including the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and other representatives from federal, state, and county agencies, to document and collect data identifying economic, environmental, and regulatory consequences of crop degradation by invasive and endangered species in Hawaii.

     This measure also requests the task force to develop best management practices to control, eradicate, or relocate invasive and endangered species from Hawaii's agricultural areas.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Island School Garden Network, and two concerned individuals supported this measure.  Animal Rights Hawai‘i and a concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted comments on this measure.

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

     (1)  Deleting the establishment of a task force and instead requesting the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to perform the tasks requested of the task force;

     (2)  Changing the title of this measure to read:  "REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, TO DOCUMENT AND COLLECT DATA IDENTIFYING ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND REGULATORY CONSEQUENCES OF CROP DEGRADATION CAUSED BY INVASIVE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES IN HAWAII;" and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for consistency, clarity, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 42, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Water & Land in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 42, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair