STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2194

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 572

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 572 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the law relating to agriculture.

Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committee made available for public review a proposed S.D. 1, which deletes the measure's contents and inserts language that:

(1) Allows the Department of Agriculture to declare a biosecurity emergency in certain circumstances and with the approval of the Governor;

(2) Outlines the terms of a declared biosecurity emergency;

(3) Requires the Department to implement certain requirements for agricultural commodity importers;

(4) Allows the Department to fine agricultural commodity importers who fail to comply with the requirements;

(5) Allows the Department to subpoena necessary documentation from agricultural commodity importers relating to a known or suspected infestation of pests; and

(6) Allows the Department to quarantine any farm, facility, or business that is known to be infested with pests.

Your Committee finds that the powers authorized by this measure will allow the Department of Agriculture to more effectively prevent and mitigate the infestation and spread of pests in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the proposed S.D. 1.

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, as amended herein, and recommends that it be recommitted to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 572, S.D. 1, for further consideration.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair