HI HB1339

Restructures the Hawaii Invasive Species Council into a new Hawaii Invasive Species Authority administratively attached to the Department of Agriculture to coordinate state invasive species and biosecurity efforts.

Establishes a nine-member board of directors including heads of state departments (Agriculture, Land and Natural Resources, Health, Transportation, Business/Economic Development/Tourism, University of Hawaii) plus three gubernatorial appointees representing natural resource conservation, agriculture/horticulture, and Native Hawaiian cultural practices.

Authorizes the authority to hire staff including an executive director without regard to state civil service requirements, designate lead agencies for invasive species control efforts, and implement an interagency budget for projects addressing gaps between agency mandates.

Grants state departments and agents authority to enter private or public property to control or eradicate invasive species identified by the authority, with procedures for notice, court orders if access is refused, and cost recovery from property owners.

Repeals Chapter 194 (Hawaii Invasive Species Council) and appropriates unspecified general revenues for fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 for staff, operations, and interagency invasive species projects; effective July 1, 2050.