STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3072

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2337

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 Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2337, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PESTICIDES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the membership of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides by replacing the statutory requirement for representatives from the pineapple and sugar industries with representatives from the coffee and diversified agriculture industries.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaiʻi System, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action, and one individual.

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

Your Committee finds that since the 1970s, the number of sugar and pineapple plantations in the State has greatly decreased, giving way to producers of coffee and other diversified agriculture. By updating the membership of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides to better reflect the existing composition of the agriculture industry in the State would allow for a broader and more accurate representation on the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, thereby contributing to the development of more effective and equitable pesticide laws and rules.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2337, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2337, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair