STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1027

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1552

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1552, S.D. 1, 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 address the impact of little fire ants.

Specifically, this measure appropriates moneys to the Department of Land and Natural resources to support the Hawaii Ant Lab in mitigating the effects of little fire ants in the State.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture; Kona Coffee Growers Association; Sage Farms Hawaii, LLC; Wakefield & Sons, Inc.; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Hawaii Ant Lab; Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council; and ten individuals.

Your Committee finds that little fire ants are an invasive species that have a painful sting and have caused significant disruption and economic damage to Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that that the Hawaii Ant Lab was established to address the overwhelming need for research, advice, and technical assistance to address and eradicate rapidly spreading little fire ant infestations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount appropriated from $550,000 to an unspecified sum; and

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

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. 1552, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1552, 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