STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2801

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3040

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 3040 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PESTICIDES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Agriculture to provide annual reporting on pesticide inspection and compliance investigations; and

(2) Increase monetary fines for pesticide violations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; Americans for Democratic Action; SHAKA: Sustainable Hawaii Action for Keiki and the Aina; Young Progressives Demanding Acton; Hawai‘i SEED; Kihei Community Association; Hawaii Forest Stewards; UpCountry Doctor; IMUAlliance; Hawai‘i Center for Food Safety; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; We Are One, Inc.; and one hundred forty-two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Pest Control Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Western Plant Health Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the impacts of pesticide use on Hawaii's environment and people continues to be a matter of public concern. Your Committee further finds that the 2016 report titled, Pesticide Use by Large Agribusinesses on Kaua‘i, concluded that more timely and better reported pesticide inspections and compliance investigations are needed, and that the use of drift-prone pesticides should be more strictly monitored and proven violators should be fined. This measure aims to protect the State's residents and environment by ensuring more stringent enforcement of the Hawaii pesticides law.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3040 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair