Bill Text: HI SB2907 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Invasive Species.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-04-27 - Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-27-22 6:00PM; Conference Room 325. [SB2907 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-SB2907-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2907 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's geographic location renders the State susceptible to invasive species that negatively impact the unique and natural biodiversity of the islands. The legislature supports the Hawaii invasive species council, which was established in 2003 to provide policy-level direction, coordination, and planning among state departments, federal agencies, and international and local initiatives for the control and eradication of harmful invasive species infestations throughout the State. The Hawaii invasive species council fulfills its mandate by issuing resolutions, providing plans, and strategically disbursing funds to enhance invasive species prevention, control, outreach, and research.
The legislature
further finds that the Hawaii invasive species council has effectively mitigated
nonindigenous fungal pathogens introduced to Hawaii--specifically, rapid ohia death, which was first identified on
the island of Hawaii in 2014. In 2015, the
Hawaii invasive species council awarded funds to the university of Hawaii to support
a post-doctoral researcher to assist an interagency team of scientists in the Hilo
area in studying how the disease is transmitted and finding potential treatment
options. Additionally, the legislature finds
that the interagency effort spearheaded by the Hawaii invasive species council provided
a comprehensive response to rapid ohia death that produced hundreds of volunteers statewide who were educated
on how to collect ohia seeds to further conserve the species.
Unfortunately, in 2020, the coffee leaf rust
pathogen was discovered for the first time in the United States on the islands of
Hawaii and Maui. The legislature finds that
coffee leaf rust causes severe defoliation that greatly reduces the photosynthetic
capacity of the coffee plants. Long-term
effects of coffee leaf rust may include dieback, which has a significant impact
on the following year's yield and causes an estimated thirty per cent to eighty
per cent loss if not properly treated. The
legislature further finds that efforts to control coffee leaf rust are critical
to sustaining the coffee industry--which nets over $54,300,000 in revenue annually--and
the State must continue to support these efforts.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii invasive species council to classify coffee leaf rust as an invasive species in its administrative rules in order to utilize available funding for mitigation efforts, research, and prevention or control actions for coffee leaf rust.
SECTION 2. No later than , the Hawaii invasive species council shall amend its administrative rules to classify coffee leaf rust as an invasive species. The Hawaii invasive species council shall expend any available moneys for the purpose of mitigation efforts, research, and prevention or control actions for coffee leaf rust.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.
Report Title:
Hawaii Invasive Species Council; Administrative Rules; Coffee Leaf Rust
Description:
Requires the Hawaii invasive species council to classify coffee leaf rust as an invasive species in its administrative rules and to direct available funding for mitigation efforts, research, and prevention or control actions for coffee leaf rust. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
