STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1456

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 871

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 871, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife to establish five full-time invasive species technician positions on the island of Hawaii to address invasive plants and animals.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Maui Electric Company, Ltd., Hawai‘i Electric Light Company, Inc., The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and a few individuals supported this measure. The Department of Agriculture and University of Hawai‘i at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources supported the intent of this measure. Animal Rights Hawai‘i opposed this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2100, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 871, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 871, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair