HI HB1597

Appropriates funds from general revenues to the Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2016-2017 to research methods for preventing and treating rapid ohia death disease and to control and contain damage caused by the disease, with focus on Hawaii island.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the 2017 regular session convening detailing the nature of the disease, its cause, vectors, transmission, prevention prospects, current control strategies, and necessary funding and legislation.

Addresses the rapid ohia death disease devastating native forests on Hawaii island, where ohia comprises approximately fifty percent of the State's native forest and is a keystone species in native watersheds.

Notes that the Board of Agriculture has placed Hawaii island ohia trees under quarantine to limit transport and shipping to prevent the disease from spreading to other islands.