STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3248

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2444

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2444, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECKS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Department of Health to conduct criminal history record checks of applicants for permits to operate as a hemp processor.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Kauai Hemp Company, and one individual.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that Act 263, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023 (Act 263), provided consenting hemp processor applicants with two methods to satisfy the criminal background check requirement: consent to and pass fingerprint and criminal background check conducted by the Department of Health; or submit to the Department a valid license to grow hemp issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). However, as the Department of Health does not have the authority to conduct criminal history checks on consenting hemp processor applicants, only applicants who have satisfactorily passed a criminal background check to obtain a USDA license to grow hemp can apply to be a permitted hemp processor in the State. Therefore, this measure will effectuate the legislative intent of Act 263, allowing the Department of Health to issue hemp processor permits to those who do not have a USDA license to grow hemp.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2444, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2444, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair