CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 108-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2546

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 2546, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Allow for the use of fine meshed nets for the protection of plants against invasive species; and

(2) Require the Department of Agriculture to establish a registration program for purchasers of fine meshed nets in the State.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a preamble related to the use of fine meshed nets for the protection of plants against invasive species, such as the coconut rhinoceros beetle;

(2) Specifying the manner in which fine meshed nets shall be applied;

(3) Deleting language that would have required the Department of Agriculture to establish a registration program;

(4) Requiring the Department of Agriculture to adopt certain rules related to preventing non-targeted entanglement and other prohibited uses;

(5) Changing the effective date to upon approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2546, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2546, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair	____________________________ CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES Co-Chair
____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair	____________________________ KIRSTIN KAHALOA Co-Chair