STAND. COM. REP. NO. 440-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2104

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 2104 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Native Resources and Fire Protection Program and Hawaii Invasive Species Council to address the invasive species crisis.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that invasive species are a significant threat to Hawaii's economy and natural environment and the health and lifestyle of Hawaii's people and visitors. The Hawaii Invasive Species Council was established in 2003 for the purpose of providing policy level direction, coordination, and planning among federal agencies, state departments, and international and local initiatives for the control and eradication of harmful invasive species infestations throughout the State. However, the initiatives of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council remain underfunded. This measure provides additional support to the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to ensure its viability to control and eradicate invasive species in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $4,250,000.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2104, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2104, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair