(A) “Control” means, as appropriate, eradicating, suppressing, reducing, or managing harmful non-indigenous species populations, preventing spread of harmful non-indigenous species from areas where they are present, and taking steps such as restoration of native species populations and habitats to reduce the effects of harmful non-indigenous species and to prevent further invasions.

(B) “Ecosystem” means a community of organisms and its environment.

(C) “Introduction” means the intentional or unintentional release, escape, dissemination, or placement of a species into an ecosystem as a result of human activity.

(D) “Harmful non-indigenous species” means a non-indigenous species that can naturalize and either:

(1) Causes or may cause displacement of, or otherwise threaten, native species in their natural communities or ecosystems; or

(2) Threatens or may threaten natural resources or their use in the state.

(E) “Native species” refers to any species originally living, growing, or produced in an ecosystem within its historic range.

(F) “Non-indigenous species” means any non-native plant, animal or other viable biological material that enters and disperses in an ecosystem beyond its native range.

(G) “Species” means a group of organisms all of which have a high degree of physical and genetic similarity, generally interbreed only among themselves, and show persistent differences from members of allied groups of organisms.

(H) “Stakeholders” include, but are not limited to, state and local government agencies, academic institutions, the scientific community, non-governmental entities including environmental, agricultural, and conservation organizations, trade groups, commercial interests, and private landowners.

Section 2. Harmful Non-Indigenous Species Coordination Council.

(A) An Harmful Non-Indigenous Species Council (Council) is hereby established whose members shall include the Departments of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment, Health, Natural Resources, Law Enforcement, and Transportation <or their equivalent>. The Council shall be chaired by the Directors of the Departments of Agriculture, Conservation, Health, Natural Resources and Transportation <or their equivalent> on an annual rotating basis, beginning with the Director of the Department of Conservation <or its equivalent> and the order of succeeding chairs shall be selected by the Council. The Council may invite additional state agency representatives to be members and may prescribe special procedures for their participation. The Departments of Agriculture, Conservation, Health, Natural Resources and Transportation <or their equivalent> shall provide the temporary staffing and administrative support for the Council and, if the Council determines that dedicated staff is needed, the Council may request appropriations for dedicated staff for the Council from the Legislature.

(B) The Council shall establish an advisory committee representing stakeholders to provide information and advice for consideration by the Council. Among other things, the advisory committee shall recommend plans and actions at local, tribal, state, regional, and ecosystem-based levels to achieve the goals and objectives of the Harmful Non-Indigenous Species Coordination Plan in Section 4 of this Order. The advisory committee shall act in cooperation with stakeholders and existing organizations addressing species.

Section 3. Duties of the Harmful Non-Indigenous Species Coordination Council.

The Harmful Non-Indigenous Species Coordination Council shall coordinate state leadership regarding harmful non-indigenous species, and shall:

(A) Oversee the implementation of this Order and see that the state agency activities concerning harmful non-indigenous species are coordinated, complementary, cost-efficient, and effective, relying to the extent feasible and appropriate on existing organizations addressing harmful non-indigenous species;

(B) Encourage planning and action at local, tribal, state, regional, and ecosystem-based levels to achieve the goals and objectives of the Harmful Non-Indigenous Species Coordination Plan in Section 4 of this Order, in cooperation with stakeholders and existing organizations addressing harmful non-indigenous species;

(C) Develop recommendations for national cooperation in addressing harmful non-indigenous species;

(D) Develop guidance to state agencies on prevention and control of harmful non-indigenous species, including the procurement, use, and maintenance of native species as they affect harmful non-indigenous species;

(E) Facilitate development of a coordinated network among state agencies to document, evaluate, and monitor impacts from harmful non-indigenous species on the economy, the environment, and human health;

(F) Identify and mitigate future threats from non-indigenous species; which may include monitoring the presence of harmful non-indigenous species in neighboring states and determining potential pathways of entry into the state by non-indigenous species;

(G) Facilitate establishment of a coordinated, up-to-date information-sharing system that utilizes, to the greatest extent practicable, the Internet. This system shall facilitate access to and exchange of information concerning non-indigenous species, including, but not limited to, information on distribution and abundance of non-indigenous species; life histories of such species and invasive characteristics; economic, environmental, and human health impacts; management techniques, and laws and programs for management, research, and public education; and

(H) Prepare and issue a statewide Harmful Non-Indigenous Species Coordination Plan as set forth in Section 4 of this Order.

Section 4. Harmful Non-Indigenous Species Coordination Plan.

(A) Within 18 months after issuance of this Order, the Council shall prepare and issue the first edition of a state Harmful Non-Indigenous Species Coordination Plan (Plan), which shall detail and recommend performance-oriented goals and objectives and specific measures of success for state agency efforts concerning harmful non-indigenous species. The Plan shall set forth steps to be taken by the Council to carry out the duties assigned to it under Section 3 of this Order. The Plan shall be developed through a public process and in consultation with state agencies and stakeholders.

(B) The first edition of the Plan shall include a review of existing and prospective approaches and authorities for preventing the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species, and shall identify research needs and recommend measures to minimize the risk that introductions will occur. If recommended measures are not authorized by law, the Council shall develop and recommend to the Governor and General Assembly legislative proposals for necessary changes in authority.

(C) The Council shall update the Plan annually and shall concurrently evaluate and report on success in achieving the goals and objectives set forth in the Plan. The Plan shall identify the personnel, other resources, and additional levels of coordination needed to achieve the Plan’s identified goals and objectives. Within 18 months after measures have been recommended by the Council in any edition of the Plan, each state agency whose action is required to implement such measures shall either take the action recommended or shall provide the Council with an explanation of why the action is not feasible. The Council shall assess the effectiveness of this Order no less than once each 5 years after the order is issued and shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on whether the order should be revised.