STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1830

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.C.R. No. 43

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 43 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL, TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR MANAGING THE ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET POPULATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in consultation with the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, to develop a comprehensive strategy for managing the invasive rose-ringed parakeet population.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Animal Rights Hawai‘i. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that rose-ringed parakeets, which cause harm to native species and agricultural crops, must be managed through a comprehensive strategy. Your Committee further finds that the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, which is co-chaired by the Chairpersons of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Agriculture, is the appropriate entity to develop policy-level direction, coordination, and planning statewide regarding the rose-ringed parakeet.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Urging the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, rather than the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to develop and submit the comprehensive strategy;

(2) Urging the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to consult with the Department of Agriculture in developing the comprehensive strategy;

(3) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(4) 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 Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 43, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Water & Land in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 43, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair