| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the silent invasion of Hawaii by alien invasive species threatens Hawaii's economy, natural environment, human health, and lifestyle. The Hawaii interagency biosecurity plan provides a coordinated path forward to increase support for local agriculture, protect the environment, and safeguard the health and lifestyle of Hawaii's people by protecting against invasive species. The plan notes that imports to the State, and specifically the importation of plant material, is one of the main pathways for the introduction of harmful pests and diseases, such as coqui frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui), nettle caterpillars (Darna pallivitta), ohia rust (Austropuccinia psidii), and rapid ohia death (Ceratocystis fimbriata). The plan also notes that invasive species have massive economic costs for the State, counties, local industries, and residents. As of 2016, little fire ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) cost Hawaii county $174,000,000 per year alone in management costs and economic damage to agriculture, nurseries, residents, and other sectors. The legislature further finds that the public are burdened with the economic cost of mitigating and adjusting to invasive species' spread as these species affect agriculture and food security, native ecosystems, property values, and quality of life. The costs of invasive species prevention and mitigation should be borne at the source of their entry to the State, which is predominantly freight imports. The legislature also finds that under existing law, a freight import fee is collected on shipments arriving into the State via water. This fee has proven a reliable source of steady funds to supplement general funds for the crucial inspection and quarantine services performed by the Department of Agriculture. Although the legislature acknowledges a 2012 ruling by the United States Department of Transportation found that the State cannot make airlines or the air cargo import companies collect or remit import fees, this ruling did not rule against the State charging and collecting the fee on the air cargo itself. The legislature concludes it is essential to ensure that invasive species are caught and eradicated, regardless of the means the species arrives in the State. The purpose of this Act is to: (1) Beginning July 1, 2022, establish an air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fee, to be assessed on each air carrier delivering air cargo into the State; (2) Establish the air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund, to be used solely by the department of agriculture's air cargo inspection program; (3) Increase the inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee and charge from 75 cents to an unspecified amount for every one thousand pounds of freight or part thereof brought into the State; and (4) Require the auditor to conduct an analysis on the air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fee and report to the legislature. SECTION 2. Chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§150A-A Air cargo inspection, quarantine, and eradication fee. (a) The department shall assess and collect a fee of $ from each air carrier delivering air cargo into the State. (b) The fee shall be used by the department's air cargo inspection program, solely for the inspection, quarantine, and eradication of invasive species contained in any air cargo arriving into the State. (c) The department shall deposit the fee into the air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund established pursuant to section 150A-B. §150A-B Air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund. (a) There is established in the state treasury the air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund, into which shall be deposited: (1) Legislative appropriations for air cargo biosecurity and inspection, quarantine, and eradication purposes; (2) Service fees, charges, and penalties collected under section 150A-B; (3) All interest earned or accrued on moneys deposited in the fund; and (4) Any other moneys made available to the fund. (b) The moneys in the air cargo pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund shall be expended by the department's air cargo inspection program, solely for the inspection, quarantine, and eradication of invasive species contained in any air cargo arriving into the State." SECTION 3. Section 150A-5.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§150A-5.3 Inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee and charge. (a) There is imposed a fee for the inspection, quarantine, and eradication of invasive species contained in any freight, including marine commercial container shipment, [air freight,] or any other means of transporting freight, foreign or domestic, but not including aggregate bulk freight, cement bulk freight, coal bulk freight, or liquid bulk freight, that is brought into the State. The transportation company shall bill the fee to the person responsible for paying the freight charges to the transportation company within fifteen days of the delivery of the freight. The fee shall be paid by the person responsible for paying the freight charges to the transportation company within forty-five days of receipt of the bill. The transportation company shall collect the fee from the person responsible and forward the payment to the department at the port of disembarkation within forty-five days of receipt of the fee; provided that the transportation company shall not be liable for any fee that is not paid by the person responsible for paying the freight charges to the transportation company. The department shall deposit the fee into the pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund under section 150A‑4.5. (b) The fee shall be assessed and collected on the net weight of the imported freight computed on the basis of [75 cents] $ for every one thousand pounds of freight, or part thereof, brought into the State." SECTION 4. (a) The auditor shall conduct a sunrise analysis on the air cargo inspection, quarantine, and eradication fee established pursuant to section 2 of this Act. (b) The auditor shall 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 2022. SECTION 5. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act. SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2022. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the silent invasion of Hawaii by alien invasive species threatens Hawaii's economy, natural environment, human health, and lifestyle. The Hawaii interagency biosecurity plan provides a coordinated path forward to increase support for local agriculture, protect the environment, and safeguard for the health and lifestyle of Hawaii's people by protecting against invasive species. The plan notes that imports to the State, and specifically the importation of plant material, is one of the main pathways for the introduction of harmful pests and diseases, such as coqui frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui), nettle caterpillars (Darna pallivitta), ohia rust (Austropuccinia psidii), and rapid ohia death (Ceratocystis fimbriata). The plan also notes that invasive species have massive economic costs for the State, counties, local industries, and residents. As of 2016, little fire ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) already cost Hawaii county $174,000,000 per year alone in management costs and economic damage to agriculture, nurseries, residents, and other sectors. The legislature further finds that the public are burdened with the economic cost of mitigating and adjusting to invasive species' spread as these species affect agriculture and food security, native ecosystems, property values, and quality of life. The costs of invasive species prevention and mitigation should be borne at the source of their entry to the State, which is predominantly freight imports. The purpose of this Act is to increase the freight import fee to provide additional funding for programs to inspect, quarantine, prevent, and mitigate the impacts of invasive species in the State. SECTION 2. Section 150A-5.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: "(b) The fee shall be assessed and collected on the net weight of the imported freight computed on the basis of [75 cents] $1.50 for every one thousand pounds of freight, or part thereof, brought into the State." SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ |
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