STAND. COM. REP. NO.  236-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3033

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 3033 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL INSPECTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance the ability of the Department of Agriculture to prevent the importation of pests into the state by, among other things:

     (1)  Requiring shippers and transporters to provide advance written notification of arrival of articles transported into the state, or from one island of the state to another, as freight, air freight, baggage, or otherwise, for the purpose of debarkation or entry, or as ship's stores;

     (2)  Allowing a DOA inspector to order the quarantine of, or hold for examination, any freight, air freight, or baggage, transported for the purpose of debarkation or entry, or as ship's stores, when any person fails to comply with any of the notification requirements; and

     (3)  Expanding the range of articles subject to advance notification and possible inspection to include non-agricultural articles capable of harboring pests.

     DOA, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species supported this bill. Conservation Council for Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.  Dole Food Company Hawaii supported the intent of this bill with concerns.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3033 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Transportation.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair