Bill Text: HI SCR38 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Invasive and Endangered Species Task Force
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-28 - The committee on EET deferred the measure. [SCR38 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-SCR38-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
38 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
Requesting the Department of Agriculture to convene a task force to document and collect data identifying economic, environmental, and regulatory consequences of crop degradation caused by invasive and endangered species in Hawaii.
WHEREAS, invasive and endangered species have negative impacts on Hawaii crop and animal production, including declining yields and depressed returns from the cultivation of agricultural products; and
WHEREAS, invasive and endangered species are affecting farmers statewide, and negative impacts are particularly acute where the invasive and endangered species are relatively recently introduced and traditional methods for control have not been established; and
WHEREAS, invasive and endangered species directly affect the growing of crops for local consumption and directly impact Hawaii farmers' ability to supply fresh local crops to people in the State; and
WHEREAS, while farmers and ranchers have experienced the negative impacts of invasive and endangered species, they don't necessarily have the training to document the economic and agricultural harm being caused by these damaging pests; and
WHEREAS, documenting the impacts of invasive and endangered species on Hawaii agriculture is necessary to facilitate a unified federal, state, and county effort to address this agricultural threat; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Agriculture is requested to convene a task force to document and collect data identifying economic, environmental, and regulatory consequences of crop degradation caused by invasive and endangered species in Hawaii; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests the following persons or their designated representatives to serve as members of the task force:
(1) The Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, who is requested to serve as Chairperson of the task force;
(2) One representative each from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, and Rural Development Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture;
(3) The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources;
(4) The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Agribusiness Development Corporation;
(5) The Director of Health;
(6) One representative each from the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and the Economic Research Organization of the University of Hawaii;
(7) One representative each from the Planning Departments of the Counties of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai and the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu;
(8) One representative each from the Offices of Economic Development of the City and County of Honolulu, County of Maui, and County of Kauai, and the Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaii;
(9) One representative from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council; and
(10) One representative from the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force, in coordination with the United States Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service and other scientific researchers at the University of Hawaii, and the Invasive Species Committees on each respective island, is requested to conduct population assessments of invasive and endangered species affecting Hawaii's agricultural industry; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force, in conducting population assessments, is requested to examine the following:
(1) Population sizes, geographical ranges, and distributions of invasive and endangered species;
(2) Impacts of invasive and endangered species on agricultural crops and on nonagricultural land uses, including botanical gardens, golf courses, and watershed areas;
(3) Whether populations of invasive and endangered species travel from watershed and wildlife habitats to areas populated and cultivated by people in order to feed;
(4) The roosting and shelter areas of invasive and endangered species, in relation to their feeding areas; and
(5) The rates at which populations of invasive and endangered species are increasing or decreasing; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to develop best management practices to control, eradicate, or relocate invasive and endangered species from Hawaii's agricultural areas, including:
(1) Protocols to protect farms and ranches from the negative impacts of invasive and endangered species, control invasive species in a humane manner, and assist appropriate wildlife agencies in developing habitats for Hawaii's endangered species; and
(2) Public education protocols for explaining the negative impacts of invasive and endangered species on agriculture and the steps taken by the task force to address those negative impacts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to 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 2017; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture; the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, and the Under Secretary of the Rural Development Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture; the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Agribusiness Development Corporation; the Director of Health; the Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and the Project Manager of the Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawaii; the Directors of Planning of the Counties of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai; the Director of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; the Executive Director of Economic Development of the City and County of Honolulu; the Director of Economic Development of the County of Kauai; the Coordinator of Economic Development of the County of Maui; the Director of Research and Development of the County of Hawaii; the Co-Chairpersons of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council; and the Executive Director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Invasive and Endangered Species Task Force
