STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2884

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3133

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3133, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that certain aspects of the hemp industry are regulated by both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health. Presently, the Department of Health regulates hemp products and the processing of hemp within the State, including permit requirements for hemp processors. However, as the Department of Health does not have the authority to conduct criminal history checks on consenting hemp processor applicants, only applicants with a valid United States Department of Agriculture license are eligible to apply to be a permitted hemp processor. Therefore, this measure effectuates the legislative intent of Act 263, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, to provide prospective hemp processor applicants with alternative eligibility requirements for criminal history checks.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3133, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair