STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2629

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2079

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 2079 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE IMPORTATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow the State of Hawaii Plant and Animal Declaration Form to be distributed, completed, and transmitted electronically.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committees find that many plants and animals from elsewhere in the world can be harmful to Hawaii's unique environment, agriculture, and communities. To help prevent harmful pests from being brought into the State, a Hawaii Plant and Animal Declaration Form is required to be distributed to and collected from individuals, passengers, and crew of any flight or cruise prior to the debarkation of passengers and baggage. Your Committees further find that the existing law, as written, is ambiguous as to whether electronic forms can be used for the purposes of transmitting the Hawaii Plant and Animal Declaration Form. Therefore, this measure amends the law to clarify that the Hawaii Plant and Animal Declaration Form may be distributed, completed, and transmitted electronically.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2079 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair