H.C.R. NO. 198 Summary

• Request the State Auditor to conduct a financial and management audit of the Plant Quarantine Branch of the Department of Agriculture.

• Auditor to focus on the current state of the Plant Quarantine Branch and recommend necessary resources for it to fulfill its responsibilities under chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

• Department of Agriculture must provide information and assistance required by the Auditor to complete the audit.

• Auditor must report findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the start of the 2017 Regular Session.

• Cites Department of Agriculture's failure to submit required Biosecurity Program reports for fiscal years 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015, and community concerns about inspector hiring delays and port inspection capability.