HI HB2046

Appropriates unspecified funds to the Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2018-2019 for outreach and education efforts in West Hawaii County regarding detection and treatment of little fire ants.

Appropriates unspecified funds to the University of Hawaii's Hawaii Ant Lab for fiscal year 2018-2019 to support little fire ant mitigation, including 6.0 FTE positions for statewide activities and 1.0 FTE position for West Hawaii expansion.

Restructures the Hawaii Invasive Species Council into the Hawaii Invasive Species Authority, administratively attached to the Department of Agriculture, with a nine-member board including state agency directors and gubernatorial appointees.

Authorizes the Hawaii Invasive Species Authority to coordinate state biosecurity efforts, implement the Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan, adopt invasive species lists for control or eradication, manage public reporting systems, and oversee interagency emergency responses.

Grants state departments authority to enter private and public property to control or eradicate identified invasive species after notice, with enforcement procedures available through district court if property owners refuse access.