Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.R. No. 103 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to call for the voluntary reduction of the use of pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides in Hawaii, and to urge users of these products to implement an Integrated Pesticide Management program whenever possible.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Agriculture, the Hawaii Pest Control Association, and the Hawaii chapter of the Sierra Club. The Hawaii Environmental Health Association submitted testimony opposing this measure as drafted. The Hawaiian Alliance for Responsible Technology and Science (HARTS) submitted proposed amendments. The University of Hawaii Environmental Center submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides are chemical poisons that can affect the public health and safety when introduced into the environment. At the same time, your Committee recognizes that these substances are an important and necessary component of many state businesses, and are used by many state agencies.

Therefore, your Committee supports the intent of this measure, which calls for a voluntary reduction of the use of these chemical agents but does not mandate such a reduction.

Your Committee amended this measure by replacing its contents with the contents of a proposed S.D. 1 version submitted by HARTS. The substance of the two versions are substantially similar, but much of the terminology used in the version submitted by HARTS is technically more accurate.

As amended by your Committee, this measure calls for the voluntary introduction of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs by all state agencies. IPM is a science-based approach to managing pest problems that takes into account the need for limited use of chemical agents, while minimizing health and environmental risks.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 103, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 103, S.D. 1.