STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1586

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 948

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 Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 948, S.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 appropriate funds for the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to coordinate the removal of hazardous albizia trees that potentially threaten public safety and the environment.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, Wild Kids, Hawaiian Electric, Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that invasive albizia trees grow very quickly and are hazardous to natural areas, property, and infrastructure. This measure provides a means to proactively mitigate and remove invasive albizia trees from priority areas.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, 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 Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 948, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 948, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair