STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1936-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2996

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2996, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for research, extension, and control of the little fire ant and other harmful ant species.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Pest Control Association, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS, MacFarms of Hawaii LLC, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2022, 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2996, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2996, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair