Bill Text: HI HB100 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Inspection Fees.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-12-10 - Carried over to 2022 Regular Session. [HB100 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-HB100-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
100 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO INSPECTION FEES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the silent invasion of Hawaii by alien invasive species threatens Hawaii's economy, natural environment, human health, and lifestyle. The Hawaii interagency biosecurity plan provides a coordinated path forward to increase support for local agriculture, protect the environment, and safeguard the health and lifestyle of Hawaii's people by protecting against invasive species. The plan notes that imports to the State, and specifically the importation of plant material, is one of the main pathways for the introduction of harmful pests and diseases, such as coqui frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui), nettle caterpillars (Darna pallivitta), ohia rust (Austropuccinia psidii), and rapid ohia death (Ceratocystis fimbriata).
The plan also notes that invasive species have massive economic costs for the State, counties, local industries, and residents. As of 2016, little fire ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) cost Hawaii county $174,000,000 per year alone in management costs and economic damage to agriculture, nurseries, residents, and other sectors.
The legislature further finds that the public are burdened with the economic cost of mitigating and adjusting to invasive species' spread as these species affect agriculture and food security, native ecosystems, property values, and quality of life. The costs of invasive species prevention and mitigation should be borne at the source of their entry to the State, which is predominantly freight imports.
The legislature also finds that under existing law, a freight import fee is collected on shipments arriving into the State via water. This fee has proven a reliable source of steady funds to supplement general funds for the crucial inspection and quarantine services performed by the Department of Agriculture. Although the legislature acknowledges a 2012 ruling by the United States Department of Transportation found that the State cannot make airlines or the air cargo import companies collect or remit import fees, this ruling did not rule against the State charging and collecting the fee on the air cargo itself. The legislature concludes it is essential to ensure that invasive species are caught and eradicated, regardless of the means the species arrives in the State.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Beginning July 1, 2022, establish an air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fee, to be assessed on each air carrier delivering air cargo into the State;
(2) Establish the air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund, to be used solely by the department of agriculture's air cargo inspection program;
(3) Increase the inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee and charge from 75 cents to an unspecified amount for every one thousand pounds of freight or part thereof brought into the State; and
(4) Require the auditor to conduct an analysis on the air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fee and report to the legislature.
SECTION 2. Chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§150A-A Air cargo inspection, quarantine, and eradication fee. (a) The department shall assess and collect a fee of $ from each air carrier delivering air cargo into the State.
(b) The fee shall be used by the department's air
cargo inspection program, solely for the inspection, quarantine, and
eradication of invasive species contained in any air cargo arriving into the State.
(c) The department shall deposit the fee into the air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund established pursuant to section 150A-B.
§150A-B
Air cargo pest inspection, quarantine,
and eradication fund. (a) There is established in the state treasury
the air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund, into which
shall be deposited:
(1) Legislative
appropriations for air cargo biosecurity and inspection, quarantine, and
eradication purposes;
(2) Service fees,
charges, and penalties collected under section 150A-B;
(3) All
interest earned or accrued on moneys deposited in the fund; and
(4) Any
other moneys made available to the fund.
(b) The moneys in the air cargo pest inspection,
quarantine, and eradication fund shall be expended by the department's air cargo
inspection program, solely for the inspection, quarantine, and eradication of
invasive species contained in any air cargo arriving into the State."
SECTION 3. Section 150A-5.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§150A-5.3 Inspection,
quarantine, and eradication service fee and charge. (a) There is imposed a fee for the inspection,
quarantine, and eradication of invasive species contained in any freight,
including marine commercial container shipment, [air freight,] or any
other means of transporting freight, foreign or domestic, but not including
aggregate bulk freight, cement bulk freight, coal bulk freight, or liquid bulk
freight, that is brought into the State.
The transportation company shall bill the fee to the person responsible
for paying the freight charges to the transportation company within fifteen
days of the delivery of the freight. The
fee shall be paid by the person responsible for paying the freight charges to
the transportation company within forty-five days of receipt of the bill. The transportation company shall collect the
fee from the person responsible and forward the payment to the department at
the port of disembarkation within forty-five days of receipt of the fee;
provided that the transportation company shall not be liable for any fee that is
not paid by the person responsible for paying the freight charges to the
transportation company.
The department shall deposit the fee into the pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund under section 150A‑4.5.
(b) The fee shall be assessed and collected on the net weight of the imported
freight computed on the basis of [75 cents] $ for every one thousand pounds of
freight, or part thereof, brought
into the State."
SECTION 4. (a) The
auditor shall conduct a sunrise analysis on the air cargo inspection, quarantine, and eradication fee established
pursuant to section 2 of this Act.
(b) The
auditor shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any
proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session of 2022.
SECTION 5. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2022.
Report Title:
Department of Agriculture; Import Fee; Inspection, Quarantine, and Eradication Service Fee and Charge; Air Cargo; Air Cargo Inspection Program
Description:
Beginning 7/1/2022, establishes an air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fee, to be assessed on each air carrier delivering air cargo into the State. Establishes the air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund, to be used solely by the department of agriculture's air cargo inspection program. Increases the inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee and charge from 75 cents to an unspecified amount for every 1,000 pounds of freight or part thereof brought into the State. Requires the auditor to conduct an analysis on the air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fee. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
