STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1942

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 744

S.D. 1

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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 744, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to direct the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to amend its administrative rules to classify the fungal pathogen that causes Coffee Leaf Rust as an invasive species and to expend any available funding for mitigation efforts, research, and prevention or control actions for Coffee Leaf Rust.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; Ma‘alahi Farm; Kona Bae Farm; Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Huahua Farm; Hawaii Coffee Growers Association; Kona Coffee Farmers Association; Volcano Isle Fruit Co, Inc.; Hawaii Coffee Association; and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture.

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. 744, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair