STAND. COM. REP. NO. 451

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 312

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 312 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PESTICIDES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the membership of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides by replacing the members representing the sugar and pineapple industries with members representing the coffee and diversified agriculture industries.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Advisory Committee on Pesticides assists the Department of Agriculture on developing and revising laws and rules to carry out and effectuate the Hawaii Pesticides Law. Your Committee further finds that the existing membership of the Advisory Committee includes representatives of the sugar and pineapple industries. However, these industries have largely reduced their footprint in the State. This measure replaces those members with members representing the coffee and diversified agriculture industries to better represent the existing composition of the agriculture industry in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 312, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 312, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair