STAND. COM. REP. NO. 521

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 779

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 779, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PESTICIDES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reduce the effect of harmful pesticides in the State by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Health, to develop and implement a one-time, low-cost pesticide disposal collection program; and

(2) Increasing the administrative and criminal penalties for violating the State's pesticides law.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Imua Alliance; Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Pest Control Association, and CropLife America.

Your Committee finds that waste chemicals can become a serious public health and environmental threat when not managed properly and if accumulated for long periods of time. Your Committee further finds that legal pesticide disposal options are limited in Hawaii, and the longer waste pesticides are left unmanaged, the more likely the container will leak, the label will become unreadable, someone will be exposed, or the chemicals will leach into the ground or wash into nearby waterways. This measure therefore has the potential to provide environmental and human health benefits for the community by removing threats to residents, waterways, and the environment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 779, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 779, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair