REPORT ON BILLS FAVORABLY REPORTED BY COMMITTEE

TITLE OF BILL:

AN ACT CONCERNING INVASIVE SPECIES.

SPONSORS OF BILL:

REASONS FOR BILL:

This bill is designed to fund a budget for the Invasive Plants Council.

RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:

Chairman David K. Leff- Department of Environmental Protection- The DEP does support the intent of this bill, but recommends a more comprehensive approach as outlined in their 3^rd Annual Report which was distributed to the Committee over a month ago. The proposed substitute language which the DEP offers to the Committee is outlined in detail within this testimony.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:

Sandy Breslin – Audubon Connecticut- Strongly supports the passing of this bill, but does suggest that the legislation be amended to include the recommendations proposed in the 2006 Third Annual Report of the Invasive Plants Council.

Paul Larson- Sprucedale Gardens- Strongly supports the passing of this bill, and explains that while the council has continued to make real progress in how the state might address the complex issue of invasive plants, the recommendations contained in this bill will go a long way in putting the people of CT where we need to be to responsibly address many of the concerns of all of the stakeholders involved.

The Connecticut Farm Bureau Association- The Farm Bureau fully supports this bill, and believes that by adding a four hundred seventy-five thousand dollar appropriation to the Invasive Plants Council, the state can make even further strides in addressing invasive plants. The testimony goes further to explain that the Bureau also supports the steps taken by the CT Invasive Plants Council this winter which unanimously approved the recommendations to the state legislature, that are listed in detail within the testimony.

Donna R. Ellis- The University of Connecticut, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources- Fully supports this legislation, and the substitute language which has been submitted concerning this bill. This testimony goes on to explain that the sooner we address the issue of invasive plants in CT, the more cost effective our actions will be.

George W. Knoecklein- Northeast Aquatic Research (NAR)- Fully supports the passing of this bill, but also explains that there are however no provisions, or authority, for enforcement of this law. The NAR urges the committee to take the next step and provide a means by which these banned plants can be taken out of circulation.

Bob Heffernan- Connecticut Green Industries- Supports the passing of this bill, and goes on to explain that as long as all the 2006 recommendations of the CT Invasive Plants Council stay together in a combined legislative package, the green industries will not oppose their enactment into law. They also suggest that this piece of legislation be written to encompass all these components.

David Sutherland- The Nature Conservancy- Strongly supports the passing of this bill, as it calls for the implementation of the CT Invasive Plants Council's recommendations in its recent Annual Report. This piece of testimony goes further to explain that the Nature Conservancy supports the vast majority of the recommendations that are made by the DEP in their submitted substitute language, with the possible exception of one provision which they are still discussing with members of the council

Priscilla Feral- President of Friends of Animals- In this brief testimony the organization strongly urges the committee to pass this piece of legislation.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:

Laura “Peach” Reid- President/Owner of Fish Mart Inc.- While this testimony expresses support for the state's efforts being made to control or eradicate invasive plants into our environment, it does address concerns regarding the language of this bill. These concerns are clearly outlined throughout this testimony.