STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2809

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 572

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 572, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the State's biosecurity efforts.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to:

(A) With the approval of the Governor, declare a biosecurity emergency in certain circumstances;

(B) Fine agricultural commodity importers who fail to comply with the Department's requirements;

(C) Subpoena necessary documentation from agricultural commodity importers relating to a known or suspected infestation of pests; and

(D) Quarantine any farm, facility, or business that is known to be infested with pests; and

(2) Requires the Department of Agriculture to implement certain requirements for agricultural commodity importers.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that invasive species have become a steadily increasing problem impacting Hawaii. Invasive species damage the State's environment and economy and pose a serious threat to the agricultural industry. Your Committee further finds that authorizing the Department of Agriculture to declare a biosecurity emergency will enable the Department to acquire the necessary resources to rapidly respond to new pest introductions and more effectively prevent and mitigate the spread of invasive species.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the purpose of the biosecurity program's multi-dimensional system; and

(2) Deleting a provision authorizing the Department of Agriculture to fine agricultural commodity importers.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 572, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 572, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair