STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3302

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2935

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2935, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUATIC BIOSECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to improve aquatic biosecurity.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes positions and appropriates funds to support the prevention, detection, and management of aquatic alien and invasive species associated with discharge from ocean vessels; and

(2) Appropriates funds to support the ecosystem protection and restoration program for aquatic biosecurity.

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

Your Committee finds that this measure will help to protect the State's vulnerable aquatic resources from the introduction and spread of non-native aquatic organisms by providing funding and positions to help ensure compliance with the federal Vessel Incidental Discharge Act of 2018.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 S.B. No. 2935, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2935, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair