REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE PLANT PEST CONTROL BRANCH AND PLANT QUARANTINE BRANCH WITHIN THE PLANT INDUSTRY DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

This Senate resolution asks the Office of the Auditor to perform a performance audit of the Plant Industry Division within the Department of Agriculture. The audit will specifically examine the Plant Pest Control Branch and the Plant Quarantine Branch, which are responsible for managing invasive species and protecting Hawaii's agriculture and environment. The request stems from previous findings that these branches have faced staffing shortages and have not fully implemented all recommendations from a 2017 audit. By conducting this review, the legislature aims to assess how well the division is executing its biosecurity duties and whether it has addressed past concerns regarding operational capacity and risk management.