STAND. COM. REP. NO. 591

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 692

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. 692 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PESTICIDES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase administrative and criminal penalties for violators of the Hawaii Pesticides Law.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Imua Alliance, Hawai‘i Food+ Policy, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaii Pest Control Association, CropLife America, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association.

Your Committee finds that fines for violations of Hawaii Pesticide Laws have not increased for 22 years for commercial pesticide applicators and nearly 50 years for private pesticide applicators. In the last five years, the Pesticides Branch has issued and closed almost 100 notices of violations for companies or individuals who had repeat use violations. This measure seeks to protect public health and the environment and ensure more stringent enforcement of The Hawaii Pesticides Law.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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 Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 692, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 692, 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 & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair