H.B. 2301 Summary

• Restructures the Hawaii Invasive Species Council into the Hawaii Invasive Species Authority, administratively attached to the Department of Agriculture, effective July 1, 2019.

• Establishes a nine-member board composed of directors from state departments (Agriculture, Land and Natural Resources, Health, Transportation, Business/Economic Development/Tourism), University of Hawaii president, and three gubernatorial appointees representing conservation, agriculture/horticulture, and native Hawaiian cultural practices.

• Authorizes the Authority to hire staff including an executive director without regard to civil service requirements, and grants it authority to coordinate multi-agency invasive species programs, implement the Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan, and manage interagency emergency responses.

• Grants departments authority to examine, control, and eradicate invasive species on public and private property, with provisions for notice to owners and court-ordered warrants if entry is refused.

• Appropriates unspecified general revenues for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the Authority's positions and operations, plus additional funds for interagency invasive species projects and research.