Hawaii-2016-HR143-Introduced

WHEREAS, introduced or non-native species have and will continue to have devastating impacts on Hawaii's agriculture, natural environment, economy, public health, and quality of life; and

WHEREAS, the State's tourism depends upon Hawaii's unique environment; and

WHEREAS, there are more endangered species in the State of Hawaii than in any other state in the United States, and of all the plants and birds known to be extinct in the nation, two-thirds are from Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, without vigilant inspection, prohibited and restricted insects, diseases, viruses, plants, and animals can be introduced and established in the State, and can endanger the public health, safety, and welfare; and

WHEREAS, once established, invasive species are a matter of serious public concern, causing millions of dollars in damage to agriculture and the environment, and cannot be eradicated; and

WHEREAS, inspection at the ports is considered the best quarantine measure to reduce the entry of unwanted plants and animals into Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the current administration has continued to undermine Hawaii's quarantine system, creating more gaps in Hawaii's battle to prevent the introduction of invasive pest species; and

WHEREAS, there are increased concerns about the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture's inability to hire inspectors in a timely manner; and

WHEREAS, Department of Agriculture's inspectors are inspecting less imported cargo at the ports, and insect and disease interceptions have dropped nearly eighty per cent during the last three years; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to section 150A-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Biosecurity Program is designed to prevent the entry into the State and interisland movement of pests and prohibited organisms, as well as eradicate, control, reduce, suppress, seize, and dispose of incipient pest populations and prohibited organisms; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture has failed to comply with sections 150A-56 and 150A-57, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by failing to submit reports to the Legislature on the status of the Biosecurity Program for fiscal years 2012–2013, 2013–2014, and 2014–2015; and

WHEREAS, members of the agricultural sector, the environmental sector, and the community have expressed concern over the Department of Agriculture's lack of transparency and progress on the implementation of the Biosecurity Program; and

WHEREAS, the only two pathways for introduced species to arrive in Hawaii are air and maritime transportation; and

WHEREAS, air transportation has been proven to be particularly vulnerable, and has been a pathway through which invasive and illegal species, plants, and animals have arrived in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Administration is moving toward a sustainable airport concept, which implements sustainable principles as part of airport planning; and

WHEREAS, these core principles of sustainability are: protection of the environment, maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth, and social progress that recognizes all stakeholders' needs; and

WHEREAS, Order 5190.6B of the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Compliance Manual states that "[a]n airport may use its revenue to support a community's use of airport property if the expenditures are directly and substantially related to the operation of the airport"; and

WHEREAS, inspection of incoming commodities is substantially related to the operation of state airports, especially with regard to the movement of air passengers and cargo; and

WHEREAS, airlines have vocally objected to the reduction of inspection hours by the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture; and

WHEREAS, adequate staffing and facilities enhance the safe and efficient movement of passengers and cargo through the airports, while inadequate staffing and facilities create a backlog of cargo at the airports; and

WHEREAS, insufficient inspection personnel and facilities prevent imported commodities from being inspected and released, and thus result in these commodities rotting and decaying at the airports; and

WHEREAS, the transfer of the Plant Quarantine Branch of the

State Department of Agriculture to the State Department of Transportation will facilitate more effective inspections at ports and transitional facilities under the authority of the Department of Transportation; and

WHEREAS, the foregoing organizational shift will enhance the State’s efforts to ensure biosecurity, reduce the introduction of invasive species, and balance the efficiencies of the transportation network; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to evaluate the duties and facilities of the Plant Quarantine Branch of the Department of Agriculture, including the branch's Biosecurity Program and related programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to focus on the current state of the Plant Quarantine Branch and make recommendations on the resources necessary for the Plant Quarantine Branch to fully and properly carry out its purpose and responsibilities pursuant to chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of a proposed move of some or all of the functions of the Plant Quarantine Branch to the Department of Transportation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Transportation are requested to provide any information and other assistance the Bureau may require; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2017; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, and the Director of Transportation.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Plant Quarantine Branch; Legislative Reference Bureau

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	143
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII