STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2876

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3379

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3379 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Department of Agriculture for a ports-of-entry biosecurity program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaii's Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawaii Farm Bureau, The Outdoor Circle, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that appropriating moneys for the continued operation of the ports-of-entry biosecurity program will help to prevent the introduction of invasive species into the State and protect the State's economy, natural resources, and public health.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the moneys are being appropriated out of the general revenues of the State that are appropriated for native resources and fire protection programs (LNR 402);

(2) Changing the appropriation and allocation amounts to unspecified sums;

(3) Changing the expending agency from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

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

(5) Making technical nonsubstantive changes 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. 3379, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3379, S.D. 1.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair