STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1270

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 745

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 745, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Extend the offense of false labeling of Hawaii-grown coffee to include roasted coffee;

(2) Impose a $10,000 fine for each separate offense of false labeling of Hawaii-grown coffee; and

(3) Establish a measurements standards inspector position for enforcement.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, Kanalani Ohana Farm, Synergistic Hawai‘i Agriculture Council, Rancho Aloha Coffee Farm, Kona Coffee Farmers Association, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Kona Bae Farm, Hawaii Coffee Company, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, Hawaii Coffee Association, and thirteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that existing protections against the false labeling of coffee are aimed at Hawaii-grown coffee in cherry and parchment form, however, roasted coffee products are where most instances of false labeling of Hawaii-grown coffee occur. This measure expands the protections of the State's distinct premium brand of coffee by imposing a significant fine as a deterrent to the false labeling of Hawaii-grown coffee.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 745, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 745, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair