STAND. COM. REP. NO. 449

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 544

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 Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 544 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REGULATION OF IMPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the State of Hawai‘i Plant and Animal Declaration Form to be distributed, completed, and transmitted electronically.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that invasive species have become one of the most challenging problems impacting the State. Your Committee further finds that the State of Hawai‘i Plant and Animal Declaration Form helps prevent new invasive species from entering Hawaii when completed by passengers and flight or vessel crews arriving in the State. Your Committee believes that converting the current paper form to an electronic form will increase the number of completed forms and help decrease the number of restricted plant and animal species entering Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the completed declaration forms to be transmitted to the inspector at the first airport or seaport of arrival prior to the debarkation of passengers or baggage;

(2) Clarifying that failure to distribute or transmit the declaration forms prior to the debarkation of passengers or baggage is a violation; and

(3) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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. 544, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 544, 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