STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 97
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: H.B. No. 779
H.D. 1
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. 779 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PESTICIDES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to protect Hawaii from the harmful effects of pesticides by:
(1) Requiring the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Health, to develop and implement a pesticide disposal collection program to provide a one-time, affordable, and accessible means for bona fide agricultural entities to dispose of restricted use and nonrestricted use pesticides; and
(2) Increasing the administrative and criminal penalties for violating the Hawaii pesticides law.
Your Committee finds that a pesticide disposal program for household pesticide products exists in most counties in the State, other than for commercial and certain other types of pesticide products. The disposal program proposed by this measure would benefit the health and well-being of residents and the environment by removing unused and unwanted pesticide products from the State.
Your Committee notes that the $800,000 appropriation contained in the measure was received from a legal settlement with Monsanto Company.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Allowing licensed pest control operators to participate in the pesticide disposal collection program;
(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
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. 779, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 779, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,
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____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair |
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