STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO.2944

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2009

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2009, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purposes of this measure are to:

(1) Allow the Department of Agriculture to issue permits for the import and possession of a restricted microorganism for emergency preparedness;

(2) Clarify that the permits for microorganism importation issued prior to and which expire after July 1, 2000, shall not be renewed. Reapplication for a permit must comply with the microorganism import framework established by Act 211, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000;

(3) Provides the Department of Agriculture with flexibility to modify microorganism import regulations as necessary to address newly discovered health and environmental risks; and

(4) Clarifies that documents relating to the importation of soil, plants, animals, and microorganisms must be issued in compliance with Department of Agriculture rules.

Testimony supporting this measure was received from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that public awareness of microorganisms is increasing for various reasons, including their usefulness in a range of agricultural-related activities and their threat to the public health if not controlled responsibly. As scientific knowledge about microorganisms accumulates, the Department of Agriculture requires the necessary authority and flexibility to ensure their proper importation, handling, and use. Your Committee finds that this measure adequately equips the Department of Agriculture to safely regulate the importation of microorganisms and protect the public health.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2009, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2009, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

		____________________________ JAN YAGI BUEN, Chair