STAND. COM. REP. NO. 579-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2613

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2613, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Expand the application of the criminal offense of false labeling of Hawaii-grown coffee to include roasted coffee;

(2) Enhance the penalties for the criminal offense of false labeling of Hawaii-grown coffee through the imposition of a mandatory fine for each offense; and

(3) Establish and appropriate funds for a position within the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of labeling and packaging enforcement and inspection.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Synergistic Hawaiʻi Agriculture Council; Hawaii Coffee Association; Rancho Aloha Coffee Farm; Kanalani Ohana Farm; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaii Coffee Growers Association; Kona Coffee Farmers Association; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Coffee Company.

Your Committee finds that fraudulent representations as to a coffee's geographic origin diminish the value of that geographic identifier by harming its reputation. Your Committee further finds that the existing criminal offense of false labeling of Hawaii-grown coffee only applies to green coffee, cherry coffee, or parchment coffee. This measure would expand that offense to roasted coffee and further protect the geographic identifier of Hawaii-grown coffee.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2613, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair