STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2781

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3042

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 3042 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to mitigate and control the two-lined spittlebug and to fund outreach, education, surveillance, treatment, and pest management protocols.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture; Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i; one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; Pa‘ahana Livestock LLC; Hawaii Meats LLC; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; Ulupalakua Ranch; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Palani Ranch; Local Food Coalition; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association; and ten individuals.

Your Committee finds that the two-lined spittlebug, prosapia bicincta, is an invasive insect that attacks key forage grasses used by the livestock ranching industry. Your Committee further finds that the State's livestock industry has an estimated annual value of more than $68,000,000, with over one hundred forty-two thousand beef cattle on more than one thousand three hundred ranches. Continued infestations of two-lined spittlebug will reduce the quality of some forage pastures in Hawaii by decreasing their nutritional value, palatability, and productivity, thereby threatening Hawaii's livestock industry. Thus, your Committee finds that action is necessary to mitigate and control the two-lined spittlebug.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3042 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair