STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3763

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2329

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2329, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to protect the agricultural industry from destructive invasive species.

Specifically, this measure appropriates moneys to establish a one-year pilot program to reduce the population of rose-ringed parakeets on Kauai using past research and on-the-ground experience to guide future strategies.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Economic Development of the County of Kauai, Hawaii Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy, Kauai Invasive Species Council, and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that rose-ringed parakeets cause significant damage to food crops and other agricultural goods. Your Committee further finds that a year-long pilot program to reduce the population of rose-ringed parakeets is needed to provide relief to farmers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Expanding the scope of the pilot program to include the island of Oahu; and

(2) Making a technical nonsubstantive amendment for the purpose of clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2329, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2329, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair