Bill Text: HI SB650 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 650 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Rapid Ohia Death.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-11 - The committee on WTL deferred the measure. [SB650 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB650-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	650
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

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 the ohia is Hawaii's most common and widespread native tree. Ohia trees can be found at sea level and up to elevations of two thousand five hundred meters. The trees provide critical habitats for rare and endangered native birds and insects.

The legislature finds that in recent years, the disease known as rapid ohia death, caused by two non-native fungal pathogens, ceratocystis lukuohia and ceratocytis huliohia, has been killing ohia trees in forests and residential areas across the State. When infected, the crown of an ohia tree first turns yellow, and then brown within a few days or weeks. The fungal pathogen progresses up the stem of the tree and manifests as a dark stain in the sapwood along the outer margin of the trunk. Landowners have noticed that when healthy-looking trees begin to exhibit symptoms, the trees die in a matter of weeks.

As of 2014, approximately fifteen thousand acres on the island of Hawaii have shown greater than fifty per cent mortality from rapid ohia death. Recent estimates have found that the disease has affected thirty thousand acres on the island of Hawaii. Recognizing the significant problem of rapid ohia death, Act 102, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, appropriated $300,000 to the department of agriculture for research to combat the disease.

The legislature further finds that in the intervening years, rapid ohia death has become an increasingly pervasive problem in the State. In 2018, lab testing performed by the United States Department of Agriculture's agricultural research service confirmed that the more virulent fungal pathogen to cause rapid ohia death, ceratocytis lukuohia, was present in ohia trees on a department of Hawaiian home lands parcel on the east side of Kauai.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of land and natural resources to support the department's efforts to combat rapid ohia death in the State; provided that funds are matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by one or more private entities.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 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 to support the efforts of the department of land and natural resources to combat rapid ohia death in the State; provided that no funds shall be made available under this Act unless one or more private entities, separately or in conjunction, provides matching funds on a dollar-for-dollar basis for the purpose for which the sums are appropriated.

The sums 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, 2019.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

DLNR; Rapid Ohia Death; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to combat rapid ohia death in the State. Requires matching funds.

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