HI SB776

Restructures the Hawaii Invasive Species Council into the Hawaii Invasive Species Authority, administratively attached to the Department of Agriculture, to coordinate invasive species prevention and control efforts across state agencies.

Establishes a board composed of directors from agriculture, land and natural resources, health, transportation, business/economic development, and the University of Hawaii, plus three governor-appointed members representing conservation, agriculture, and native Hawaiian cultural practices.

Authorizes the authority to hire an executive director and staff without regard to civil service requirements, adopt rules for invasive species designation and control, coordinate the Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan, and maintain a central data repository for invasive species programs.

Grants departments authority to enter private and public property to examine, control, and eradicate invasive species identified by the authority, with notice requirements and court order procedures for property access disputes.

Appropriates funds for fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 to support authority positions, operations, and interagency invasive species projects, with amounts to be specified.