Bill Text: HI SB2908 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To The Plant Quarantine Branch.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-23 - The committee on WAM deferred the measure. [SB2908 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-SB2908-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2908 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE PLANT QUARANTINE BRANCH.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that responding quickly to newly detected invasive species can often prevent the species from becoming firmly established, saving taxpayers money in the long term. The United States Department of Agriculture has stated that foreign pests and disease already cost the United States' economy tens of billions of dollars annually in lower crop values, eradication programs, emergency payments to farmers, and increased costs for food and other natural resources.
Currently, with the spread of coffee leaf rust fungus, State agencies lack resources, such as quarantine facilities, and response mechanisms to deal with these newly identified threats and may be missing opportunities to eliminate them. The introduction of coffee leaf rust fungus as an alien invasive species poses serious problems to the State's ecosystem. Any introduction of alien invasive species via the airport or other entry points throughout the State may lead to significant cumulative impacts. The lack of resources and facilities can allow invasive species to become established in the State, making mitigation efforts more protracted and expensive.
The legislature further finds that the plant quarantine branch of the department of agriculture is tasked with preventing the introduction and spread of harmful pests and diseases into the State by regulating domestic import, performing border inspections, and facilitating post-border detection and control of agricultural pests. The plant quarantine branch is a critical component in meeting the threat of invasive species entering Hawai‘i and spreading throughout Hawai‘i through the State's ports of entry.
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys out of the general revenues of
the State to expand state-run quarantine
facilities under the jurisdiction of the department of agriculture's plant quarantine
branch.
SECTION 2. The department of agriculture shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations relating to the expenditure of funds towards the purpose of this Act, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the expansion of state-run quarantine facilities under the jurisdiction of the department of agriculture's plant quarantine branch.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Invasive Species; Department of Agriculture; Plant Quarantine Branch; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates general revenues to expand state-run quarantine facilities under the jurisdiction of the department of agriculture's plant quarantine branch.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
