Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 557, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect consumers from tainted seafood products by:

The Hawaii Audubon Society and several concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this bill. The Department of Health testified in opposition.

Your Committee finds that fish that have been speared are more likely to harbor bacteria and may cause human illness or death, particularly in the elderly. Your Committee received testimony stating that Hawaiian fish are particularly prone to poisoning and contamination.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 557, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.