04-23-2011, 01:37 PM
Aloha all...
There are 2 legislative bills very important to Big Isle beekeepers that are scheduled for hashing out between Senate and House versions this coming Monday afternoon, 4/25/2011. We would appreciate any of you who could contact the legislators serving on these Conference Committess this weekend (email's the easiest and most reliable contact) and tell them that passage of House Bills 866 HD2 SD2 and 1568 HD2 SD2 by the 2011 Legislature is very important and heartily endorsed by yourself and the Legislative Committee of the Big Island Beekeepers Association.
The wording of the final Senate versions of both provides laws putting into effect these two very important priorities identified this past winter by BIBA at its Hilo meeting with Ag Chair Russell Kokubun and beekeepers, tropical ag and invasive species interests.
At that meeting, BIBA cited the permanent appointment of a state apiarist and necessary staff as well as the absolute need for heightened biosecurity measures on the part of state and federal agencies to protect the island from invasive species. The legislative process does not allow for public testimony at this point but we need to demonstrate public interest in the passage of these bills so please do what you can to help us let these legislators know we're watching.
HB 866 provides for the apiarist as well as establishing a VOLUNTARY one-year beekeeper registration program. The legislators to contact on that Conference Committee are:
House Co-Chairs Rep. Clift Tsuji (Hilo) reptsuji@capitol.hawaii.gov and Rep. Mark Hashem (Aina Haina) rephashem@capitol.hawaii.gov
Also Rep. Cindy Evans (Waikoloa) repevans@capitol.hawaii.gov and on the Senate side, Chairman Clarence Nishihara (Waipahu) sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov and Sen. Michelle Kidani (Mililani) senkidani@capitol.hawaii.gov as well as Sen. Glenn Wakai (Salt Lake-Aiea) at senwakai@capitol.hawaii.gov and Sen. Sam Slom (Hawaii Kai - Diamond Head) at senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov.
Citing the success of the new Kahului airport ag inspection station, HB 1568 provides for state and federal agencies to work together to construct and implement inspection programs WITHIN the state's other airports. Airlines and our own Dept. of Transportation have fought this but compromise language worked out moves the state forward in actually meeting its inspection and biosecurity responsibilities when before we've had not much more than lip service! Please send emails to these Conference Committee members who will be taking up the issue Monday afternoon:
ConfComm House co-chairs Clift Tsuji reptsuji@capitol.hawaii.gov , Rep. Joseph Souki (Maui) repsouki@capitol.hawaii.gov , and Rep. Linda Ichiyama (Oahu) repichiyama@capitol.hawaii.gov as well as Rep. Mark Hashem (Aina Haina) rephashem@capitol.hawaii.gov and Rep. Aaron Johanson (Aiea) repjohanson@capitol.hawaii.gov .
On the Senate side of that committee are Chairman Sen. J. Kalani English (Maui, Molokai) senenglish@capitol.hawaii.gov and co-chairs Sen. Clarence Nishihara (Waipahu) sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov and Sen. David Ige (Pearl City) sendige@capitol.hawaii.gov plus Sen. Sam Slom (Hi Kai to D.Head) senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov
Your BIBA Legislative Committee would really appreciate any effort you can give to help promote these bills with our Legislature.
Wishing you all a wonderful 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon following the vernal equinox. And mahalo nui loa, Frankie Stapleton, BIBA Legislative Committee
Frankie Stapleton
There are 2 legislative bills very important to Big Isle beekeepers that are scheduled for hashing out between Senate and House versions this coming Monday afternoon, 4/25/2011. We would appreciate any of you who could contact the legislators serving on these Conference Committess this weekend (email's the easiest and most reliable contact) and tell them that passage of House Bills 866 HD2 SD2 and 1568 HD2 SD2 by the 2011 Legislature is very important and heartily endorsed by yourself and the Legislative Committee of the Big Island Beekeepers Association.
The wording of the final Senate versions of both provides laws putting into effect these two very important priorities identified this past winter by BIBA at its Hilo meeting with Ag Chair Russell Kokubun and beekeepers, tropical ag and invasive species interests.
At that meeting, BIBA cited the permanent appointment of a state apiarist and necessary staff as well as the absolute need for heightened biosecurity measures on the part of state and federal agencies to protect the island from invasive species. The legislative process does not allow for public testimony at this point but we need to demonstrate public interest in the passage of these bills so please do what you can to help us let these legislators know we're watching.
HB 866 provides for the apiarist as well as establishing a VOLUNTARY one-year beekeeper registration program. The legislators to contact on that Conference Committee are:
House Co-Chairs Rep. Clift Tsuji (Hilo) reptsuji@capitol.hawaii.gov and Rep. Mark Hashem (Aina Haina) rephashem@capitol.hawaii.gov
Also Rep. Cindy Evans (Waikoloa) repevans@capitol.hawaii.gov and on the Senate side, Chairman Clarence Nishihara (Waipahu) sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov and Sen. Michelle Kidani (Mililani) senkidani@capitol.hawaii.gov as well as Sen. Glenn Wakai (Salt Lake-Aiea) at senwakai@capitol.hawaii.gov and Sen. Sam Slom (Hawaii Kai - Diamond Head) at senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov.
Citing the success of the new Kahului airport ag inspection station, HB 1568 provides for state and federal agencies to work together to construct and implement inspection programs WITHIN the state's other airports. Airlines and our own Dept. of Transportation have fought this but compromise language worked out moves the state forward in actually meeting its inspection and biosecurity responsibilities when before we've had not much more than lip service! Please send emails to these Conference Committee members who will be taking up the issue Monday afternoon:
ConfComm House co-chairs Clift Tsuji reptsuji@capitol.hawaii.gov , Rep. Joseph Souki (Maui) repsouki@capitol.hawaii.gov , and Rep. Linda Ichiyama (Oahu) repichiyama@capitol.hawaii.gov as well as Rep. Mark Hashem (Aina Haina) rephashem@capitol.hawaii.gov and Rep. Aaron Johanson (Aiea) repjohanson@capitol.hawaii.gov .
On the Senate side of that committee are Chairman Sen. J. Kalani English (Maui, Molokai) senenglish@capitol.hawaii.gov and co-chairs Sen. Clarence Nishihara (Waipahu) sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov and Sen. David Ige (Pearl City) sendige@capitol.hawaii.gov plus Sen. Sam Slom (Hi Kai to D.Head) senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov
Your BIBA Legislative Committee would really appreciate any effort you can give to help promote these bills with our Legislature.
Wishing you all a wonderful 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon following the vernal equinox. And mahalo nui loa, Frankie Stapleton, BIBA Legislative Committee
Frankie Stapleton
Frankie Stapleton