STAND. COM. REP. NO. 70

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 549

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 549 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEASUREMENT STANDARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to transfer the oversight and regulation of the State's Measurement Standards Branch from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that throughout the United States and many other nations, measurement standards programs, also known as weights and measures programs, provide a uniform means to conduct commerce in a manner that protects consumers from fraud and misrepresentation and is fair to all parties involved. Accordingly, the proper home of the State's Measurement Standards Branch should lie with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 549 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair