THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2082
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES CONTROL.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that invasive plant species have become a serious threat to the unique flora and fauna of the Hawaiian islands.  Invasive plant species erode soil and have taken over the ecosystems of many native plants and animals, threatening or even causing their extinction.

     The legislature further finds that most invasive plant species originate as nursery or landscape plants that become invasive through their prolific production of seeds.  Landscapers are often reluctant to stop using many invasive plants due to a lack of appropriate substitutes and given the emphasis placed on maintaining beautiful resort landscapes to support the State's tourism-oriented economy.

     The legislative reference bureau's 2002 report, "Filling the Gaps in the Fight Against Invasive Species", found that the State spent $8,497,500 in 1999 and another $11,087,380 in 2000 to fight invasive species, including Miconia, one of the most damaging ornamental species.  According to a 2006 report by Brooks A. Kaiser, accommodating the invasive species plant Miconia calvescens, rather than eradicating or controlling its spread, will cost the State approximately $47,000,000, $1,740,000,000, and $2,360,000,000 in losses and damages

over the span of fifty, one hundred, and two hundred years, respectively.

     Scientists at the university of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources have developed techniques to produce seedless plants that are vegetatively propagated.  Once sterilized, nursery plants can be grown and used for landscaping without any possibility of reproducing and becoming invasive.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the university of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to develop or identify substitutes for invasive plant species that are routinely used in landscaping.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the university of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to develop or identify substitutes for invasive plant species that are routinely used in landscaping; provided that the funded research shall include studies of sterile, non-seed-producing forms of polyploids and shall exclude highly invasive plant species that are listed on the department of agriculture's noxious weed list and plants having high scores on the university of Hawaii's weed risk assessment.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

 

 

Report Title:

UH; Invasive Plant Species; Substitutes; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires and appropriates funds for the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to develop or identify substitutes for invasive plant species that are routinely used in landscaping.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

 

 

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