HI HB871

Establishes the biosecurity program as a statewide function of the entire Department of Agriculture rather than a branch, enabling the program to address biosecurity issues across the department

Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to establish or participate in private-public partnerships to enhance the biosecurity program and quarantine inspection process, with the requirement that only department employees perform actual inspections

Creates objectives for the biosecurity program including preventing entry and interisland movement of pests and prohibited organisms without a permit, and responding to eradicate and control pest populations

Requires the Department of Agriculture to implement multiple actions including pre-entry inspection programs, port-of-entry facilities, post-entry pest control measures, improved cargo manifest systems, and public education on invasive species threats

Appropriates unspecified funds from general revenues for fiscal years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 for projects including an electronic manifest system, import replacement of high-risk crops, pesticide research, quarantine treatment development, and diagnostic improvement