Bill Text: HI HB1546 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Environmental Protection.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-06-22 - Received notice of discharge of all House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 363). [HB1546 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB1546-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1546 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that mosquitos are an alien species in Hawaii and were introduced to the Hawaiian archipelago in the late 1800s. Mosquitos are also considered vectors of diseases that negatively affect humans and wildlife. Without sufficient eradication efforts, mosquito-borne disease such as dengue fever and Zika virus are likely to become established in Hawaii. Additionally, avian malaria has decimated the native bird population throughout the range of the mosquito. Unfortunately, as the Earth's climate warms, mosquitos will be able to survive at higher altitudes delivering disease more easily to humans, and Hawaii's native birds will continue to lose survivable habitat as mosquitos move mauka.
Eliminating mosquitos is a critical element of protecting public health and restoring the original habitat of Hawaii's native birds. Mosquito eradication techniques, including introducing genetically-engineered mosquitoes to disrupt breeding and reproduction cycles, have been developed and tested in multiple mosquito-affected regions of the world. Locally, the University of Hawaii, in partnership with the department of land and natural resources division of forestry and wildlife and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, have researched mosquito control technologies that could potentially benefit both native wildlife and human health in Hawaii. Researchers have adapted safe, targeted, and efficient technologies of mosquito control to reduce the population of disease-carrying mosquitos. Similar technologies are already in use to control fruit fly pests in Hawaii.
The purpose of this Act is to eradicate mosquitoes from Hawaii to protect public health, native species, and way of life by providing funds to the University of Hawaii to scale up research, coordinate with appropriate state agencies, and develop a plan to be implemented for the statewide eradication of mosquitoes.
SECTION 2. (a) The University of Hawaii shall scale up research, coordinate with appropriate state agencies, and develop a plan that assesses a variety of genetic tools available and identifies options to be implemented for the eradication of mosquitoes in the State.
(b) The University of Hawaii shall submit an annual report on its plan to eradicate mosquitos in the State and progress in implementing the plan to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2020 and 2021.
SECTION 3. 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 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the University of Hawaii to research and develop a statewide mosquito eradication plan; provided that the funds shall not be used for travel expenses.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Mosquito Eradication; UH; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the University of Hawaii to develop a plan to be implemented for the statewide eradication of mosquitos. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
