Bill Text: HI HB1769 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Rapid Ohia Death.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 27-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-03-22 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [HB1769 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-HB1769-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1769 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO RAPID OHIA DEATH.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that rapid ohia death has killed over a million ohia trees on Hawaii island and threatens forests on all of the main Hawaiian islands. Ohia is the State's most common tree, comprising eighty per cent of remaining native forests. Ohia trees provide important habitats for other plants and animals and gather precipitation to recharge island aquifers. Ohia forests have been treasured by native Hawaiians for centuries for many practical uses and for art, including hula, where the tree is the kinolau of important Hawaiian gods. The widespread loss of ohia would be catastrophic for Hawaii's culture and native ecosystems. It would reduce the municipal and agricultural water supplies and eliminate important cultural ties to the forest.
The legislature further finds that rapid ohia death is caused by two recently arrived fungi, Ceratocystis lukuohia and Ceratocystis huliohia. C. lukuohia, the more aggressive species, has caused more than ninety per cent of the rapid ohia death on Hawaii island. Both species have been found on Kauai and are now found throughout the island. Only C. huliohia has been detected on Oahu, while a single detection of C. huliohia on Maui was destroyed and no further detections have been made on the islands making up Maui Nui.
The legislature finds that these two fungi are released from dead
trees into the environment by boring beetles. The non-native beetles
bore into the wood, releasing frass and dust into the environment where the frass
and dust can be transported by wind or by humans and animals. Rapid ohia death attacks trees where they have
wounds, which may be caused by hooved animals. Researchers found ohia mortality from rapid ohia
death up to sixty-nine times higher in areas with hooved animals than in neighboring
fenced areas without animals. To manage this
disease effectively, additional research is needed to better understand the
role of beetles, wind events, and hooved animals in spreading the disease.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department
of land and natural resources to study and combat rapid ohia death in the State.
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 2022-2023 to be allocated as follows:
(1) $ for a survey of and the response to rapid ohia death;
(2) $ for applied research on management tools;
(3) $ for animal removal from fenced areas on Hawaii island; and
(4) $ for public outreach on how to prevent disease spread.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.
Report Title:
Rapid Ohia Death; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to study and combat rapid ohia death in the State. (SD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
