STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2404

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 2358

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2358 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate $4,250,000 for the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Native Resources and Fire Protection Program and for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to address the invasive species crisis in the State.

 

     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, Ka ʻOhana O Na Pua, and three individuals.

 

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

 

     Your Committee finds that despite the growing threat of invasive species in the State, annual net funding allocation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (Council) has not increased in over four years.  Your Committee recognizes that approximately ninety percent of the Council's funding is used as bridge funding to supplement strategic interagency projects and programs under other state agencies and as competitive grants for innovative projects that address invasive species prevention, control, outreach, and research.  This measure will provide necessary funding for the Council to ensure its viability to control and eradicate invasive species in the State.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2358 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

 

 

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair