STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2633

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2367

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2367 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Maui Branch, for invasive species technician positions in east Maui to address invasive plants and animals.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, one member of the Maui County Council, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Maui Chamber of Commerce, and one individual.

Your Committees find that the invasion of Hawaii by insects, disease-bearing organisms, snakes, weeds, and other pests is the single greatest threat to the State's economy and natural environment and to the health and lifestyle of the people of Hawaii. Your Committees recognize the efforts made by the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Maui branch, and the Maui Invasive Species Committee to control high-threat invasive species throughout Maui county, especially efforts in east Maui to control miconia, a fast-growing weedy tree that can increase erosion and landslides due to its shallow root system.

Your Committees further find that this measure is an appropriate vehicle in which to insert two additional appropriations for efforts to substantially reduce and eradicate certain invasive species and properly manage the axis deer population in Maui County.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation of $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2020-2021 for efforts to substantially reduce and eradicate invasive species in the County of Maui;

(2) Inserting an appropriation of $3,500,000 for fiscal 2020-2021 for activities relating to the proper management, but not eradication, of the axis deer population in Maui County;

(3) Amending Section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2367, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2367, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair