STAND. COM. REP. NO.  943

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1646

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1646, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PESTICIDES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect the health and safety of consumers, as well as the environment by:

     (1)  Requiring retailers who sell pesticides in Hawaii to               post warning signs with respect to the sale of                 pesticides;

     (2)  Requiring the pesticide warning signs to contain, at               minimum:

          (A)  Information on the proper handling, storage, and                    disposal of all pesticides sold;

          (B)  Emergency telephone numbers to call in case of                 pesticide poisoning; and

          (C)  Any other information deemed by the Department of              Agriculture (DOA) to be appropriate and helpful for            consumers;

     (3)  Requiring DOA to adopt rules regarding the posting of              the warning signs; and

     (4)  Allowing DOA to adopt any other rules necessary,                   including rules regarding the size and placement of the       warning signs.

     DOA and numerous individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii Food Industry Association, Consumer Specialty Products Association, Legislative Information Services of Hawaii, and Retail Merchants of Hawaii testified in opposition to this measure.  The Hawaii Pest Control Association and several concerned individuals submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1646, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1646, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair