Bill Text: HI SB2359 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 2359

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Invasive Species.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-2)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-15 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. [SB2359 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SB2359-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2359
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to invasive species.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that little fire ants are an invasive species that are spreading rapidly throughout the State. They are widespread on Hawaii island and, over the past year, have spread on Oahu with numerous confirmed infestation sites.

Little fire ants have a painful sting that can cause long-lasting itchy rashes or welts and also irritate, and sometimes blind, household pets. Additionally, these pests have caused significant disruption and economic damage on Hawaii island.

The legislature further finds that the Hawaii ant lab was established in 2009 to address the overwhelming need for research, advice, and technical assistance to address and eradicate rapidly spreading little fire ant infestations. Effective treatment is labor-intensive as it requires careful surveying to delimit the boundaries of the infestation, repeated treatment that spans a year, and monitoring thereafter.

Previously, the Hawaii invasive species council and Hawaii department of agriculture had provided the majority of funding for the Hawaii ant lab. However, that funding ceased due to budget cuts and the repeal of the agriculture development and food security special fund. The Hawaii ant lab has survived due to the legislature making one-time appropriations of $500,000 in 2022 and 2023. However, this amount is insufficient to fully fund current staff, with a reduction of hours taken in past years and planned again in 2024. Furthermore, the Hawaii ant lab needs to increase staff on Oahu by five positions in order to fight the growing threat there while there is still hope of eradication. On Hawaii island, the Hawaii ant lab expenses have increased as they are no longer housed in department of agriculture office space.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to support the Hawaii ant lab in mitigating the effects of little fire ants in the State.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,168,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for LNR402, native resources and fire protection program, to support the Hawaii ant lab in mitigating the effects of little fire ants in the State.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $ or per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Ant Lab; Appropriation; Expenditure Ceiling

Description:

Appropriates funding for the Hawaii Ant Lab to support little fire ant mitigation and eradication efforts.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.