STAND. COM. REP. NO. 117-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1849

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1849 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 for an additional extension agent position within the Hawaii Ant Lab West Hawaii office.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the little fire ant population is quickly spreading across various islands of Hawaii and that little fire ants are now widespread in West Hawaii. From July to September 2019, the Hawaii Ant Lab West Hawaii office, with only one employee, reported having received 250 inquiries and 122 ant samples, conducted six farm visits and training sessions, organized two educational community presentations, hosted booths at community events, and provided ongoing assistance to Kaloko-Honokohau National Park and Kohanaiki Resort with eradication efforts of little fire ants on 16 acres. Your Committee believes that immediate action must be taken to fortify the Hawaii Ant Lab West Hawaii office to effectively control the spread of, or eradicate, little fire ants in West Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1849, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1849, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair